Exclusive XM stations created for BlackBerry phones

By Giselle Abramovich

April 1, 2008

BlackBerry courts consumers

Satellite radio giant XM has teamed up with mobile television and video service provider QuickPlay Media to make XM Radio Mobile available on select BlackBerry smartphones.

XM Radio Mobile will be available to BlackBerry users via QuickPlay’s OpenVideo, running across all major U.S. carrier networks. It provides BlackBerry users 20 exclusive XM channels of commercial-free music and 24-hour comedy programming for $7.99 per month with an option for a complimentary 24-hour trial.

“XM radio is now optimized for BlackBerry phones and available across all carriers,” said Mark Hyland, vice president of marketing at QuickPlay, Toronto. “There’s been all this buzz about the iPhone, which is only one phone. Now BlackBerry can tout something that the iPhone can’t.”

The XM Radio Mobile offering provides BlackBerry smartphone users with unlimited access to a wide selection of commercial-free music channels, including XM’s '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s decade channels, 20on20, Ethel, The City, XMU, Watercolors and Highway 16.

Customers can also listen to XM comedy channels, The Virus and XM Comedy.

“After April 1 RIM will be advertising the comedy and music content exclusive for the BlackBerry and will also be selling advertising,” Mr. Hyland said.

RIM stands for Research In Motion, the Canadian manufacturer of the BlackBerry phone.

All XM channels are accessed via a simple user interface with graphical icons for content genres and channels.

While listening to one XM Radio Mobile channel, users can see the song title, artist and album, as well as what’s currently playing on other XM Radio Mobile channels.

Subscribers can also multi-task as XM Radio Mobile can run in the background while they access other data applications on their BlackBerry smartphone.

BlackBerry smartphones supported by the XM Mobile Radio service require BlackBerry Device Software 4.2 or higher.

The service and a complimentary 24-hour trial is available via a downloadable application that can be accessed by visiting www.xmradio.com/bb from the BlackBerry smartphone's browser or by texting “XM” to 47201 and clicking on the download link provided. Subscribers can opt to have their purchase charged to their credit card or where available billed directly to their service provider.

“The big picture here is we are finally starting to see further penetration of mobile media into the mainstream,” Mr. Hyland said. “It's interesting because it’s like a one-size-fits-all – if you have a browser you’re in. Every piece of audio content will be reaching the mass market.”