| As far as the numbers go, XM radio is beating Sirius | | | | onto MP3 format and can be taken portably with you |
| for sheer number of subscribers. However, if you look | | | | whereever you go. The Sirius S50's size is about 4 |
| at the recent subscriptions, Sirius is clearly gaining more | | | | inches by 2 inches, and the player weights roughly 6 |
| subscribers than XM. So which is better? | | | | ounces. Pretty amazing for the handheld "Sirius |
| If the consumer's dollar is a vote for the product they | | | | portable", and the price of the object is placed at a |
| like, as economists suggest, then the consumer says | | | | perhaps sobering $280. Yet with their flurries of |
| XM was the better, but now Sirius is the top dog. The | | | | promotions such as rebates or other offers the weight |
| reason? The new Sirius S50, better talk radio involving | | | | is slightly lessened. That said, the legally free, high |
| Howard Stern and Martha Stewart grabbing both | | | | quality MP3's definitely pay for the product |
| sides of the spectrum, and a bold new marketing | | | | Aside from the new S50 we have all fallen in love |
| campaign for their secret weapon the S50: "We | | | | with, Sirius offers a lineup of sports, talk radio, and |
| Know What You're Thinking". | | | | critically praised music selections that is sure to |
| The slogan "we know what you're thinking" comes | | | | sweeten the relationship. Also, a big positive aspect of |
| probably from the way they researched the product: | | | | Sirius is what it doesn't have much of: negative |
| they hired a research team to follow people around | | | | consumer reactions. Sirius has very few |
| and find a way to integrate Sirius radio into their lives. | | | | satellite-to-receiver issues, whereas competitor XM's |
| While many think it over-the-top to declare themselves | | | | receiver tends to have a volume shift now and then, |
| psychic, the marketing worked perfectly: it got the | | | | which for me, has always been a big factor. Sirius, on |
| consumer curious. Retailers around the nation are | | | | the other hand, has crisp reception, even in some |
| saying the reason for Sirius' gains in momentum is | | | | tunnels! |
| clearly tied around the tiny handheld Satellite Radio | | | | With the new Sirius S50, among all the other great |
| player. | | | | advantages, it has become quite apparent that Sirius |
| The player allows the user to set it in a docking bay | | | | satellite radio is no longer the underdog. XM Radio |
| and download the high-quality satellite radio recordings | | | | better act quickly or they risk losing their leading status. |