The problem with SiriusXM Radio's iOS app

SiriusXM claims to be a premium satellite radio service that lets you “listen to all of it everywhere – in your car, at home or the office on your computer, or on your smartphone or tablet.” Unfortunately, the company fails to deliver on that promise thanks to an iOS app that doesn’t work for a large number of SiriusXM’s subscribers.

SiriusXM launched version 3.0 of its app in March 2015, an update that seemed to crash more often than not. The developers released a minor update, version 3.0.31, in April 2015, but the complaints are still rolling in. As of the time of writing this article, the SiriusXM app for iOS had 1,412 one star ratings, compared to 1,359 five star ratings for the current version. Across all versions, there are almost 115,000 one star reviews and a mere 43,718 five star reviews.

User complaints vary from the app being too busy and complicated to use efficiently to just not launching at all. Aileydude, in a review of the iOS app, said, “Start over, navigation through the app is too aggravating. So much potential. Come on try it again!!!” Other reviewers state that the app closes for no reason, won’t launch at all, or will open but fail to play.

These complaints have been coming in since version 3.0 first launched on March 18, 2015. SiriusXM released two maintenance updates, on April 1 and April 14, and suggested users uninstall the app, restart their phones, and then reinstall the app. These steps might have worked for some users, but it seems the majority of SiriusXM app users are still experiencing problems nearly two months later.

The description of the app claims that you can “hear the best SiriusXM has to offer, anywhere life takes you.” If this is the best that SiriusXM has to offer, how much longer will they stay in business? While new vehicles might still be coming with SiriusXM receivers preinstalled, just as many cars now have Pandora, Rhapsody, Spotify, or iHeartRadio installed in their smart stereo systems. For those who don’t have the smart-enabled entertainment systems, the apps for these streaming music services work reliably and some even allow users to download music for offline listening when you’re without cell phone reception.

Come on, SiriusXM, get your act together. Your listeners are waiting, but they won’t wait forever.