Sirius Satellite Radio Chief Executive Mel Karmazin met with shareholders today and the subject of a Sirius-enabled Apple iPod was raised.
“One shareholder asked whether Sirius is negotiating with Apple Computer about an a Sirius-enabled iPod, or if it is pursuing such a deal with another maker of MP3 players. ‘We’ve had discussions with everyone,’ the executive acknowledged, including makers of cell phones, digital music players and other devices. He said that he’d had dinner Monday night with Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs and other digital entertainment-related executives at a conference,” David B. Wilkerson reports for MarketWatch.
“‘Will there be MP3 players that include satellite radio? Sure. The technology’s easy,’ Karmazin added. The issue, he elaborated, is whether such an agreement would cannibalize existing Sirius business, and how much of its $12.95 monthly fee the company would have to split with a manufacturer,” Wilkerson reports. “Sirius will ultimately have a portable radio that is comparable to the MyFi radio offered by its rival, XM Satellite Radio, Karmazin assured investors. ‘The wearable market is a very small market in radio, and this goes back to the Sony Walkman,’ he indicated. ‘We have been focusing on the auto market and the home market. … But we recognize there are customers who want it.'”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: This would be a welcome addition to iPod’s feature set. The ability to listen to live sports, Stern and other satellite radio content on iPods while out and about would only enhance the value of iPod and probably net Sirius a “serious” amount of new subscribers, too.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Sirius CEO Karmazin looks to add satellite radio to Apple iPod; no deal – yet – February 10, 2005
Sirius has approached Apple on adding service to iPod – February 09, 2005
Analyst throws cold water on Apple iPod – Sirius Satellite radio deal – December 16, 2004
Analysts: Apple iPod + Sirius Satellite Radio ‘technologically unfeasible right now’ – December 15, 2004
RUMOR: Apple to add SIRIUS Satellite Radio (and Howard Stern) to iPod in mid-2005 – December 10, 2004
Non-Apple news: Howard Stern signs deal with SIRIUS satellite radio – October 06, 2004
The potential for a well-designed iPod/Sirius combo is huge. Of course Apple would make it if they thought it would be a hit. It wouldn’t have to be across the product line – hell, they introduced a U2 iPod, for pete’s sake. They could easily launch a special edition Sirius-enabled iPod for consumer’s in Sirius’ range…
As far as:
“…Apple is a global company. Its products have a global reach. They’ll never launch anything which doesn’t have global appeal”
They launched the iTunes Music Store in the US, then extended its reach as it grew. Apple is a US company – not a global company – whose its products are also sold in other countries, and to whom profit is one of the main objectives, as it should be. If it is profitable, it will of course be considered…
The fact that, “The wearable market is a very small market in radio” is significant because many of iPod’s competitors have built in radios and none of them have made a dent.
Could happen, but then iPod Photo has not impressed anyone in photography (including me).
I seem to recall a certain CEO believing iPod should stay focused on what it does best. And leave well alone.
Oh, by the way:
Micros**t sucks.