Zipcar To XM: It's Over
Zipcar, a popular do-it-yourself car rental service in Washington and other urban areas, is dropping XM Satellite Radio. My occasional trips to Tysons Corner and around town will never be the same.
"Though we know that so many of you love XM's tuneage and ad-free format, we've made the difficult decision to break ties with XM while things get sorted out in the satellite radio industry," Zipcar wrote in an e-mail to customers. The firm is referring, of course, to its pending merger with competitor Sirius Satellite Radio.
At least the split seems to be amicable. XM is giving Zipsters access to subscription deals through friends and family discounts. Meanwhile, XM radios will be removed from all Zipcars over the next few months.
"Rest assured, we're checking out new ways to make your Ziptrips just as rockin' (or jazzin', or, well, you get the picture) as always," Zipcar's e-mail said. Until then, I'll have to remember to pack my iPod when I need to rent some wheels.
Update: There are two sides to every story and XM has a very different perspective on its breakup. A spokesman told Tech Daily Dose on Thursday that the satellite radio firm elected to end its relationship with Zipacar and the e-mail sent to subscribers "miscommunicated the facts." "We made an investment in the receivers that we were no longer willing to make… It was a business decision," the official said.
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