Satellite radio will have to get Sirius.
Reading a post by David Houle has me thinking of the future of satellite radio. Companies like XM and Sirius have made a business out of streaming audio into radio units, both in your car and your home.
Sirius has stuck to audio, however as far as I know, they still have plans for video capability in the future. XM has branched out to providing not only radio, but also weather data to aircraft and GPS manufacturers.
The premise of David’s post was about how the 4G technology known as WiMax will be yet another piece of the disintermediation puzzle by providing the infrastructure to stream data to PDA’s, laptops, cell phones, you name it; all on a wide wireless network.
While he didn’t make the direct connection between WiMax (wiki) and the service that XM and Sirius provide, it doesn’t take a vivid imagination to think Sprint and its proposed 4G network (wiki) could be the nail in the coffin for Sat Rad if they don’t expand their service.
If you’re part of the “can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” crowd, you can make the argument that satellite radio providers could provide streaming data via satellite vs. a terrestrial based wireless network. And that’s where the infrastructure comes in. While I can see the technology existing, distributing the service at low cost will remain the challenge de ‘jur for XM and Sirius. In my last trip through DODMart, satellites are still a bit pricey. And then you have to toss ‘em high enough so that they fall around the Earth.
The next big step in communication will be, I feel, an expansion of the internet and 
wireless technology into other data transmission structures. One thing that will never change is the level at which money talks. Satellite radio companies have been able to demand a pretty penny (~$12/month) for their radio service, but that’s all you get: radio.
Add video, data, and telephone, and you truly have an Evolution Shift on your hands!
Additional Resources
Read about Sprint and its 4G Network initiative
A GigaOM Post on WiMax and Sprint
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Grant-
Thank you for the references to http://www.evolutionshift.com. I know we both think about these things. At the highest level we should all understand that everything is now in a constant state of change.. Change has become a part of our environment. The state of video, radio and information transmission both for work and for play are all in a constant state of change.
What this means is that if you don’t like the price, wait a little bit and it will come down. If you don’t like this radio service, wait and another one will come along. If you like video over the Internet good, there will always be more. If you like transportability, good you will have more. Every thing is changing. The life cycle of technology, media, and distribution systems is getting shorter and shorter. Television got to 50% of US households faster than radio, the Internet got to that level even faster than television and now, broadband is in more households in a shorter time than either of those two media.
If you don’t like what is our there now, you can be sure of two things. First, something new will come along. Second what exists now will be available for less in the future. What service, what gadget, what distribution method and what price is up to us. Isn’t it great!
David
You guys are pretty sharp. In my old age, I feel as though I’m being left in the dust by technology.