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1.  

   Well actually

   

   Anonymous Coward, Oct 20th, 2004 @ 7:41am

   
   

   The satellites are pretty much autonomous up there. It's not like some tech guy is performing service calls up there. I think you meant that keeping the programming infrastructure going is what costs money.

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2.  

   Still needs to be more convenient

   

   TJ, Oct 20th, 2004 @ 6:54pm

   
   

   A dual chip for cars would be a good step. So would arranging to get that chip into all new cars at zero dollars (the customer pays for the service if they want it). I've been shopping for new Chryslers, and unless it is special ordered it is tough to find one with Sirius, and the dealer add-on version lacks features of the factory unit.
   
   While getting it small enough might be a challenge, the device that would be convenient enough to be a killer product would be an iPod style HD music player (for favorite tunes) that also does XM or Sirius radio, could plug into new cars through a dock or interface with wireless like bluetooth, connect to a home stereo, and work on-the-go with headphones. That would be accessible anywhere (like FM radio) and useful enough for more than a few million people to want.
   
   Without something like that, a lot of people will be satisfied with an MP3/AAC player where they program their own music.
   

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3.  

   Big Money Upfront

   

   Dr. Don Blake, Oct 22nd, 2004 @ 9:11am

   
   

   The money Sirius and XM had to put up in the development stage—to Hughes satelite, the Government, the automakers, the licensing,
   etc—was huge and I've always wondered how long their biz plans gave them to finally see a profit ...

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