by Demian Russian
In a stunning move, AT&T (NYSE:T) has locked Sirius XM (NASDAQ:SIRI) out of all of its Android based phones. AT&T’s new HTC Aria Android based phone, which is scheduled to be released on June 20th, will be locked to prevent the downloading of Sirius XM’s Android app. AT&T’s Motorola Backflip has already been locked to prevent the downloading of the app as well. This is the result of AT&T’s decision to lock out all non-Android Market apps, including the Sirius XM app, from being downloaded to its Android based phones.
AT&T’s decision to not embrace the open source nature of the Android OS is surprising, especially in light of CEO Ralph de la Vega’s previous comments regarding the Android platform. In an interview with Engadget he seemed to indicate the opposite:
We like the Android as an operating system on its own, but we want to make sure that we have, and customers have the option, to put applications on that device that are not just Google applications, so when the G1 came out and T-Mobile launched it, it’s primarily a Google phone. And we want to give customers the choice of other applications on that device, not just the same Google applications…the whole idea behind Android is that it’s gonna be an open OS, and so I don’t wanna roll an open OS to market that has primarily Google apps on it, and I think that’s gonna happen. I mean, I see a lot of activity, I think it’s got a good future, and I think it makes a lot of sense that the OS is open-source, separate from Google apps that are also very good.
– Ralph de la Vega, AT&T CEO
Why isn’t Sirius XM’s online streaming app available from the Android Market? Pandora, Slacker, Last.fm, along with many other streaming apps, are currently available from the Android Market. Sirius XM’s April 23rd announcement stated that the app “will be available as a free download through the Android Market on the handset or by visiting www.siriusxm.com/android.” The company’s May 28th press release announcing the launch of the app then dropped the Android Market download option, simply stating: “The SIRIUS XM App is available by visiting www.siriusxm.com/android.” The reasons for this have not been made public as of now. While many unanswered questions remain, AT&T’s decision to lock out non-Android Market apps risks alienating customers who want Sirius XM access.
Position: Long SIRI
Contact the Author: demianrussian@satelliteradioplayground.com
What is the upside to this decision? There’s a BlackBerry app, so it’s not about exclusive access for iPhone. Strange.
It seems like easy speculation…they are cutting hot apps that are heavy on streaming and tie up their network…some of these others that have already been approved might be grandfathered in, but hey, SIRI has never been quick on the move…how many years did it take for Siri to get Iphone app?
Well, I am currently in the market for a new smartphone. I always try to support the stocks I own, whenever possible. This announcement just eliminated all AT&T phones from my consideration.
Looks like I will be going with the Droid now…unless Verizon gets an Iphone soon…
Any phone service playing cop with an open source os is not a reputable serive such as AT&T. I will never consider a service of this nature.
This would apply to all open source apps, not just sirius xm. If you can’t download to your phone, there are ways around that to get it installed.
“AT&T Locks Sirius XM Out Of Android Phones”
This is to be the most asinine thing I have ever heard. AT&T and Apple now both share the closed minded, closed source attitudes that apple has had since the 1970′s. Americans will realize that AT&T decision to place bandwidth caps and lock out certain applications on their phones is not the way of the future. Moving forward, open source will prevail. Once their friends on other networks brag how they have access to applications that AT&T subs do not they will switch to other carriers when their current contract is up. AT&T better hold onto the Apple Iphone as tight as they can because once other carriers are able to offer it, AT&T be will be hurting. I personally will never be an AT&T subscriber since I now know where they stand with their customers.
Dangit! Wish I’d seen this before I bought the Aria with a two-year contract. My Stiletto died and I figured I would just get a smart-phone to run the internet app on. Quite surprised this morning after downloading it to see the app is blocked because it’s not a part of the “marketplace.” Grrr! Now what?