XM Connect and Play poses threat to Delphi

AutoWeek published an article today about XM's Connect-and-Play technology being competition for Delphi, the leading supplier of both Sirius and XM satellite receivers for automakers. Currently, 'traditional' factory-installed satrad units cost about $325. Yet Connect-and-Play costs an estimated $50, and reduces the size of the receiver architecture and combines it into the antenna; so the competition to Delphi could indeed be fierce.

Connect-and-Play is undergoing vehicle testing at XM's research center in Florida. XM's biggest challenge is developing an antenna that can survive the extreme temperatures, harsh vibrations and styling demands required by automakers.

Moving the satellite radio's electronics from the receiver to the antenna is "a trend the entire industry is heading to," says Bob Schumacher, business line executive for integrated media systems for Delphi. Maybe Delphi will soon be releasing a response to Connect-and-Play?

Connect-and-Play will show up in home units next month in such brands as Pioneer, Harman Kardon and Boston Acoustics.