iPod Apple and Sirius Merger

[econoar]

Hey guys, long time lurker here. I just came up with my own idea for Apple and the direction of the iPod. Let me know what you think...

100 million people now have an iPod. So, how should Apple celebrate? I say that they release something innovative, something that no one expects. We all want wide screen video viewing in the next (6G) iPod and we will probably get it. We all want a touchscreen iPod, and we will probably get that too. Apple will probably also equip the next iPod with flash based memory, giving us more storage and longer battery life. But, what if Apple gave us something that we haven’t really asked for or thought of before. What if Apple signed a deal with Sirius, and gave us the ultimate portable music device.

Here’s my idea for Apple. First, partner up with Sirius. They are about to merge with XM and the combination will soon created the only satellite radio provider. With the two companies together, they currently have about 15 million subscribers and we know that they would be more than eager to get into the iPod market. Next, bring the brilliant design minds of Apple and Sirius together and integrate a satellite radio receiver into an iPod. Just envision an iPod that has the typical storage room for your own personal music library but then also gives you the ability to listen to satellite radio programming. You could listen to commercial free music, talk radio such as Howard Stern, and every major sports broadcast…right on your iPod. (I’ve even heard that portable satellite radio works on planes)

Moving on. Sirius currently offers two portable radio devices which boast portable radio technology but only 2 GB of personal music storage. We all know that Apple could find a way to fit a satellite radio receiver into an iPod. If they can fit all of those goodies into the iPhone, they can definitely pull this one off.

Read on...

 

[Dead EditHer]

Not to rain on your parade, but this has been tossed around before, and for several years. Big problem with a merge is cost, putting the equipment for satellite in a iPod would drive the price of one sky high, not to metion the fact that XM and Sirius have their own R&D departments making their own handhelds in house, I don't think they would be willing to give Apple the access they would want to develop a device without their input.

 

[econoar]

Not to rain on your parade, but this has been tossed around before, and for several years. Big problem with a merge is cost, putting the equipment for satellite in a iPod would drive the price of one sky high, not to metion the fact that XM and Sirius have their own R&D departments making their own handhelds in house, I don't think they would be willing to give Apple the access they would want to develop a device without their input.

I would think the 2 R and D's would work together.

 

[Aniej]

While I agree with your conclusion that any such merger would be a problem, I do not agree with the basis upon which you made your conclusion. Specifically, I do not think the reluctance would be a result of the cost associated with such a step, Sirius would actually be relatively cheap compared to most mergers taking place today. The problem would most likely be the significant regulatory constraints imposed and the understandable fear of antitrust litigation resulting.

 

[MacNut]

It would not be a merger but more of a license agreement.

 

[dmw007]

Interesting idea econoar. Being able to play satellite Radio on my iPod would be nice.

It would not be a merger but more of a license agreement.

Good point.