Effective April 2nd, XM Satellite Radio is changing their basic service package. The monthly subscription price for XM's basic service will increase to $12.95 (from $9.99).

The reason? XM will finally be including XM Radio Online (previously $3.99/mo) for free for regular subscribers (it's about time) and Opie and Anthony will be removed as a Premium Channel (previously an additonal $1.99/mo) and become part of the regular XM programming.

XM is also offering existing customers the unique opportunity to lock in the current $9.99 monthly rate with a one-year prepaid plan and deeper discounts with a two, three, four, or five-year prepaid plan until April 2. The price change will not affect XM's Family Plan, which allows XM subscribers to add up to four additional subscriptions for $6.99 a month per radio.

Click to view a super-sized version of the new XM Channel Guide.

Car Buyer's Notebook got to go on a tour of XM Satellite Radio. They list some pretty interesting stats as well:

- Between Sirius and XM, they'll both penetrate between 10-15% of the new vehicle market in 2005
- In 2005, XM is adding over an average 6,000 per day
- Approximately 60% of free trial users (from vehicle purchases) are converted into paying subscribers
- XM has a 98.8% renewal rate for subscribers

There's some pretty neat photos of the XM facilities too. Read more here.

The XM-3 Launch Day is today! The Sea Launch Commander and Odyssey Launch Platform have arrived at the Equatorial Launch Site and the countdown is set to begin.

Sea Launch will broadcast coverage of the mission Today (Wednesday) at 7:35 pm PST (that's 10:53 pm EST) for approximately an hour-and-a-half.

The webcast will begin approximately 18 minutes before liftoff - and will continue through the mission until a ground station acquires the spacecraft signal.

Click to see the Live webcam here.

Sea Launch's XM-3 Mission page has been updated again with some really cool pics of the process of preparing for the launch on February 16th.

Here's some direct links to the photo highlights:

- Payload Rollout from the Payload Processing Facility to the Sea Launch Commander
- Rocket Transfer from the Ship to the Odyssey Launch Platform
- Rocket Rollout and Erection on launch pad for the final tests
- Departure of the Odyssey Launch Platform
- Departure of the Sea Launch Commander

Neat stuff.

I dunno what's my obsession with this AirTran / XM deal, whether it's the big news of free Satellite Radio being available on flights, or just Elton John's big head plastered along the side of a perfectly good plane.

Either way, AirTran recently published the announcement page on their site featuring this lovely shot of Elton holding a big replica of a Boeing 717.

Surprisingly enough, upon seeing the design featuring his image, Elton John commented, "This plane looks fantastic."

At least we now know some numbers. AirTran Airways currently has three planes with XM Satellite Radio service and plans to have XM installed on 20 planes by the end of February. While the remainder of the fleet will get XM installed through summer 2005.

But nevermind all that! Did you know that Elton John's head on the 717 is comparable in dimensions to the head of the Statue of Liberty? Isn't that fantastic?

Starting this month, Cadillac will begin offering XM NavTraffic, satellite-fed real-time traffic information service for vehicle navigation systems. First available on the CTS, the XM NavTraffic system will provide continuously-updated traffic information in a selected city.

Purchasers of a 2005 CTS equipped with the DVD nav system will get the first three months of XM Satellite Radio and the XM NavTraffic service free. Following the trial period, drivers can subscribe to XM Satellite Radio or the XM NavTraffic service for $9.99/month, or subscribe to both for $13.98/month.

Pretty neat that they're offering the NavTraffic independently from the satellite radio service. A smart move as most will opt for the $14/month package anyway, but it leaves a better impression with customers to at least offer a choice.

Well, today's the day for the XM promotion Elton John promotion on select AirTran jets.

And as a testiment for excellent branding opportunities, "The traffic controller this morning was calling it Elton One," AirTran spokesman Tad Hutcheson said Monday.

AirTran said it plans to give Sir Elton John a 6-foot-long model of a jet as well as a $50,000 check for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Thanks Brendan!

Tomorrow, AirTran Airways will roll out the first of its planes equipped with free XM Satellite Radio. The airline will equip its Boeing 717 (which recently Boeing has been ended production) and Boeing 737 planes to offer XM in every seat, and will all of its planes will be outfitted with XM receivers by the end of summer.

To market this, AirTran is sticking giant decals of singer Elton John's mug on a handful of its planes. (Smart move since everyone associates Elton John with XM... right? no? nothing? Note to XM Marketing Dept: Brand recognition begins with - the brand.)

Meanwhile, JetBlue Airways also will introduce the XM programming fleetwide on its Airbus aircraft this year, and it will be added to the airline's new fleet of Embraer 190 aircraft when they're put into service this year.

Both AirTran and JetBlue will offer XM satellite radio service for free to passengers.

Saab is doing their best in making the brand-spanking-new 9-7X SUV (Saab's first SUV) more attractive - even before it goes on sale this spring.

By registering before March 31, customers who purchase or lease a 2005 9-7X will get three years of free OnStar "Safe & Sound" and XM Satellite Radio service, a $700.00 value. Apparently "Safe & Sound" is the name of the combined OnStar / XM package we found out about last week. (UPDATE: Apparently "Safe & Sound" has always been OnStar's package name.)

This promotion revolves around sending folks to the Saab 9-7X website, saab97Xsuv.com (ahem - Note to Saab PR Dept: when you publish an URL, make sure the site is up. At the time of this posting, the saab97Xsuv.com wasn't up yet) via a direct mailing and probably other marketing channels. Once customers have registered at this website (whenever it's up), they'll automatically receive the additional free services once they take delivery of their 2005 Saab 9-7X.

The 9-7X will come standard with all-wheel drive, leather-appointed heated front seats, 18-inch dubs, OnStar, XM Satellite Radio and a moonroof or a rear-DVD entertainment system. Two 9-7X models will be available: the Linear, sporting a 275hp 6-banger and the Arc model with a 300hp V8.

For now you can check out the 9-7X here if you want to find out more info.

XM Satellite Radio and Sun Microsystems announced a long-term agreement for Sun to be the company's sole supplier of UNIX and storage technology and support services.

Sun will be the sole supplier of technology solutions -- including storage, servers and technical support -- for XM's back office data center, which powers the company's business, operations and marketing systems. The first implementation under the new agreement includes an enhancement of XM's back office data center with a comprehensive Sun data management and consolidation solution.

Cool eh?
No? Nothing?