Looks like XM going to 12.99 as of Apr 2

[akbungle]

Man and I just switched from Sirius partly because of the difference in money. So They are still allowing current subscriber to do 1 2 3 4 and 5 year until April 2.

[akbungle]

Sorry got the info from Audio Video Revolution web newsletter, in case anyone was wondering.

[akbungle]

Sorry everyone I totally did'nt notice this news broke a few days ago.

[barbie845]

Since you signed onto XM before April 2nd you can sign up for the 1 year plan at the old price of $9.99...The price of any additional units,the family plan,stays the same..$6.99....

[mrpjc]

as i understand it though, the addt'l monies will cover the cost of being able to stream xm from your computer (online).

that feature used to cost 3bucks but will, as of april2, be a 'free' feature.


buy some recording software and you can make your own mp3's. ;)



yeah, as barbie said above, you can lock in at the $9.99 price for 1 year, 2, 3, 4 or 5years.

patrick.

[barbie845]

The 2,3,4 and 5 year plans actually use to be LESS then the $9.99 per month. The longer you signed up for the cheaped the per month price..And that still may be true,but with this new price hike as of April I don't know if the prices will stay the same or even if the reduced prices ,besides the 9.99,will still be offered.


And yes as of April the new price includes the online streaming and O&A...

[mrpjc]

2, 3, 4 and 5.... can those be cancelled at any time as well with a prorated refund made?

[barbie845]

With XM yes,the only thing you lose is your activation cost..

With Sirius there is a $75 cancellation fee....

[mrpjc]

what the............. that's nuts.

XM is normally $9.99, but, for now, temporarily waived.

[barbie845]

XM is normally $9.99, but, for now, temporarily waived.


Well since they are waiving the activation fee right now then if you sign up now for the 2-5 year plans you won't lose any money if you terminate the plan early.....

[STEELERSRULE]

Originally posted by barbie845
With XM yes,the only thing you lose is your activation cost..

With Sirius there is a $75 cancellation fee....

As of 3/4/05.

Don't be surprised if XM switches it's policy on this, especially if they start to see people jumping ship to Sirius, which will now cost the same as XM per month(they also offer deals at a lower rate for 1-2 year sign-ups).

They use that as a tactic to "scare" people from switching willy-nilly on them or cancelling altogether.

My guess will be that announcement comes later in the summer, under the radar, until someone on the forum posts it and nails them:)

[barbie845]

Well since were going to throw rumors out here about XM let's keep them going with Sirius too..

When Me Karmaziin ,Sirius CEO was asked about the possibility of a Sirius price hike too he didn't rule it out..As a matter of fact he hinted there maybe one in the near future for Sirius subs..

From CNN:

Mel Karmazin won't rule out a price increase in wake of rival XM's hiked monthly subscription fee.
March 2, 2005:


The rumor ball is in your court...

[STEELERSRULE]

Actually, a price increase to Sirius will most likely happen, but probably won't until after Stern begins on the Service.

I wouldn't rule it out, but it would piss alot of people off, and probably keep them from getting the service if it is announced before next year.

Line people up, and get them in before a rate hike, if possible.

barbie845,

Is there any "personal reason" why when someone floats an idea(granted, nothing to back it up, but from a business standpoint, it makes sense) about the XM you seem to take it as a personal attack?

I never understood that about your posts. It seems that any type of criticism,thought, guesswork, towards the XM service , and you seem to throw it back in another posters face. Like "Oh no, someone is not posting XM in the most positive light, I must respond!" That wasn't my point. My point was don't rule it out not happening at XM.

I was surprised by the price hike. I figured they would still keep it cheaper than Sirius. But price hikes are a fact of life in the U.S with everything. But they better be careful. I don't know what my limit would be, but they could(either one) price themselves right into bankruptcy. It is STILL JUST RADIO,so they better be careful.

Granted, I HATE the idea of a $75 charge for opting out early on Sirius(on 1-2 year subs), as opposed to the current XM way of refunding the difference in the remainder of the time you have left. I wish Sirius offered that, and they may change that policy(they already changed the $75 transfer fee[no longer applies] from one unit to a newer one(on 1-2 year pre-paid subs).

It is not a far fetched idea(or rumor, as you like too call it) that XM may install a fee of their own to stop people from opting out of the service. If they find out that many people are switching out and the reason they give is because of the price increase(they like a reason. I had to give one when I left this summer) then they would install some sort of way to stop people from leaving early.

Not re-upping is entirely different obviously. No way to stop that except continue to improve the service(programming, hardware, etc....) which both appear to be doing.

[barbie845]

Actually if you read my posts here you will find I try not to slant towards either service. Both have pluses and minuses,and I have stated that many times here.

The only consistent positive I give towards XM is their wider playlists,and even then I tell people here over and over it's up to their personal tastes in music and before making the plunge listen to both services online to see which the listener will prefer.

Maybe it's a character flaw on my part but I don't like it when either side gets on these forums and gives slanted reviews or throws rumors on here...

I just get tired of the one sounds like CD quality while the other sounds terrible reviews,when that's not true. Or the I listen to XM decades channels for hours and never hear a song I know,or I listen to Sirius and hear the same songs over and over again,both which again isn't true.

Both services are excellant choices and miles better than FM.

But again I don't know if Sirius plans a rate hike,and you don't know if XM plans on changing their cancellation policy. I say stick to the facts and the facts are Sirius's cancellation policy is stupid and bad business. And XM's recent rate hike is ,IMHO stupid. I don't want to pay for things like O&A because I wouldn't listen to them if you put a gun to my head.

Rant over....:)

[mercury]

Originally posted by akbungle
Man and I just switched from Sirius partly because of the difference in money. So They are still allowing current subscriber to do 1 2 3 4 and 5 year until April 2.

what!!it`s a whole 3.00,thats 36.00 a year??

[mrpjc]

Originally posted by mercury
what!!it`s a whole 3.00,thats 36.00 a year??


yup, but, with added abilities, such as listening online via pc.

i'm doing monthly personally, locking in my cell phone for 2yrs is enough.

[STEELERSRULE]

Originally posted by barbie845

But again I don't know if Sirius plans a rate hike,and you don't know if XM plans on changing their cancellation policy. I say stick to the facts and the facts are Sirius's cancellation policy is stupid and bad business. And XM's recent rate hike is ,IMHO stupid. I don't want to pay for things like O&A because I wouldn't listen to them if you put a gun to my head.

Rant over....:)

Fair enough.

i agree that these types of motives(rate hike and cancellation fees) aren't exactly the greatest business moves. Although the rate hike for either, which I know we can agree on, is unavoidable.

I like to see a big move to get better hardware out there, especially a unit that would have a built in HDD(5GB or less) for recording content right into the unit for playback at a later time(with VCR type timer-setting recording functions with ability to record and listen to something else at the same time). This would be awesome for things like talk shows(on Sirius the likes of Jim Breuer, Jay Thomas, and when Howard Stern arrives), and also for music which could be burned to a CD for posterity.

The talk shows mainly because if one has a boombox or the like at work, it is really hard to listen to Breuer(and especially Stern in the future because of the no-holds barred restrictions on content) because some people would be offended by the language used. I can understand that.

It will be nice when that is available, although I am probably talking about 2 years into the future. My Audiovox PNP2 will have to do for a while until then. I know the MYFi for XM records for 5 hours of content, but: 1. That is not enough for me; 2. and I thought I read that the way it records is kinda odd. Can't really explain it, but posters have said that the record function does not operate the way one would think.

I wonder what people would hope for first?

1. Better hardware with recording capabilities?

2. Better overall sound first, worry about recording the content later?

The video proposal put forth by Sirius I have to admit I currently have zero interest in.

[barbie845]

and I thought I read that the way it records is kinda odd. Can't really explain it, but posters have said that the record function does not operate the way one would think.

I don't have the MyFi so this is just a wild guess. But if it records like the SkyFi2,which I do have,it only records the last 30 mins(the SkyFi2) or in the case of the MyFi it records the last 5 hours that you listen to. The SkyFi doesn't allow to to 'save' what you record,it just keeps on recording the last 30 mins of music,or whatever you listen to. If the MyFi acts the same way then I know what you mean that it records 'odd'...

I agree,a Tivo type device would be excellant. And maybe something like that is in the works. The only drawback is will that cause copyright problems? Remember the computer device XM had out last year? I forgot the model number but it allowed the user to listen to XM thru the computer,not over it(streaming) but thru it. Someone came out with software to record the XM music using that device and just like that XM had to pull that device off the market for fear of being sued to death ala Napster..

[acebreathe]

There was always the abiltiy to listen via pc with xm albeit for a slight fee, 2.99 extra, which would bring the price per month to roughly 12.99? So now it's free? Huh? XM is doing what Sirius has already done and include the pc thing in the general fee. The only way it's free is if you sign up for a multi year deal, which is what they really want you to do.

[barbie845]

Well no,as of April 2nd XM's online streaming AND O&A will be included in it's fee whether you sign up for a 1 year at $9.99 or pay monthly at $12.95...Now it's 9.99 + online which is 3.99 + O&A which I think is 1.99...So it use to be about $16 dollars,not $12.95...


Which is the way Sirius has always handled their pricing and packages,everything is included in the price per month fee..

[lostcause]

I just signed up for XM today. I did the online activation (free) and signed up for 1 year to lock in the 9.99/mo rate.

Also, to the person who said he didn't want to be locked in like he is on his cell phone, there is no cancellation fee or penalty at the moment. You can pay for 5 years, if in 6 months you change your mind you just cancel and they refund the complete difference. It's a win/win situation if you ask me.

[Scarpad]

I wonder if I can stream to my Pocket PC?

[mrpjc]

Originally posted by lostcause
I just signed up for XM today. I did the online activation (free) and signed up for 1 year to lock in the 9.99/mo rate.

Also, to the person who said he didn't want to be locked in like he is on his cell phone, there is no cancellation fee or penalty at the moment. You can pay for 5 years, if in 6 months you change your mind you just cancel and they refund the complete difference. It's a win/win situation if you ask me.

i agree... it's just me and having too many automatic payments being pulled monthly from my credit card. like, if i don't see them, i don't know about them and being 'locked in' to any of them, just doesn't give me a warm fuzzy.

i have to suspect, xm will eventually reactivate the $9.99 termination fee, along with, raising that rate to something higher.

1) cell phone bill

2) xbox live

3) tivo

4) xm


ofcourse, i have my typical monthlies as well, credit card, phone, cable... etc, but, the above are linked directly to my credit card. all i'm saying is, it adds up and i'd prefer to not be in a contract like that of the cell phone provider.

[lostcause]

What I think you're missing though is that they don't take anything out of your card each month if you pay for a year in advance. It's around 120.00 one time, and that's it. No monthly payments. Yes, if you break it down it averages out to 10/mo, but payed in advance you get nothing taken out every month. And again, you're not locked in. If you cancel any time, they give you back the difference.

[mrpjc]

Originally posted by lostcause
What I think you're missing though is that they don't take anything out of your card each month if you pay for a year in advance. It's around 120.00 one time, and that's it. No monthly payments. Yes, if you break it down it averages out to 10/mo, but payed in advance you get nothing taken out every month. And again, you're not locked in. If you cancel any time, they give you back the difference.


ah.... understood. thanks. patrick.

[barbie845]

xm will eventually reactivate the $9.99 termination fee,


Mr. I don't want to seem like I'm piling on here but your above statement is incorrect..XM has never had a cancelation fee..The $9.99 your thinking of might the the activation fee,which as I now understand it they are waiving right now.. But you can be sure that they WILL bring the activation fee back to life,sooner then later..

[Steve Mehs]

Since I subscribe to High Voltage on both of my receivers this is a price decrease for me, I'll save a buck a month, thanks XM!

[mrpjc]

Originally posted by barbie845
...XM has never had a cancelation fee..

and

...they WILL bring the activation fee back to life,sooner then later..


sorry barbie... if they never had one................?


and, for the record, i didn't take it as if you were dog piling on me, this is a forum afterall. i could've sworn i saw the temporarily waived cancellation fee price.... perhaps i was mistaken.

:)

-patrick.

[Steve Mehs]

...XM has never had a cancelation fee.

...they WILL bring the activation fee back to life,sooner then later..

sorry barbie... if they never had one................?


Activation = start of service
Cancellation = Termination of service

XM has a $15 phone activation charge or $10 if you do it online, they do not have a cancellation fee. The activation fee has been what looks to be temporarily suspended.

[mrpjc]

LOL... sorry barbie...

http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Doh2.gif

thanks steve, caffeine hadn't kicked in yet.

http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Eye-Spin.gif

crystal clear now.


pat.

[Koiman]

Just received information from xm on yearly contracts and it looks to me that you don't save until the third year 1 yr.=142.45/12=11.87 per mo. 2 yr.=271.95/24=11.33 per mo. 3rd yr. 359.64/36=9.99 per mo. 4th and 5th yr.= 9.99 per mo.

[barbie845]

I think thats only if you sign up after April 2nd..Exsisting customers,or subs who sign up before April 2nd get the 1 year=$9.99 a month deal.

[Koiman]

barbie845,
I stand corrected.. I went back to the letter and in small print it said april 2 and on..