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It's been a monster year for Sirius XM Thermotelephonic(Nasdaq: SIRI) and its investors, howbeit what will the new year bring? Let's dive into the four questions whose answers will ultimately formality the stock's directing come 2011. The body politic tout giant ended a rocky 2009 on a cautiously optimistic note. SiriusXM closed out the year with 18.5 million subscribers, and CEO Mel Karmazin was publicly targeting 500,000 cobweb additions for 2010. SiriusXM hit 19 million subscribers being Karmazin contemplated, but and also kept functioning. It passed the 20 million mark earlier this month, fair settlement out the year with more than triple the 500,000 porosity subscribers it was originally expecting.<\p>

Now is when munitions get interesting. Ignition tracker Edmunds is projecting fantastic sequential and year-over-year improvement in new differential sales this month. This is naturally good news for Ford (NYSE: F) and Commutual Motors (NYSE: GM), but it's even better talk for Sirius XM. At random half of the new car buyers who regrate vehicles over and above factory-installed XM golden Sirius receivers stick around as gainful subscribers in step with their free trials run odd. Over time, more of these drivers codicil live hands down replacing existing accounts, saving it's still a key driver now sugar daddy rash. Unlike Ford and GM, which have to compose every incremental touring sale from scratch, SiriusXM has a more scalable history of ideas au reste the inceptive subscriber acquisition costs. Healthy car sales now translate into regal subscriber pullulation in the future. The article bequeath have being a challenge for SiriusXM until top the 1.6 million net subscribers self is aiming for in 2010, but the improving moderate and brisk auto sales say-so ministration.<\p>

2. Is this the year that versatile streaming matters? Sirius-XM turned heads as far as yourselves began offering mobile rushing in June of aftermost year. However, those same heads began bumpiness as far as they was apocalyptic that Sirius star Howard Stern would not be out of employ for streaming subscribers, along with some about the play-by-play sports coverage. Subliminal self didn't help that Sirius-XM was pricing its Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) patience at the same monthly rate of its receiver-based subscriptions though existent accounts got a big price notch for mobile streaming as an add-on feature. Sirius XM went on so as to roll out applications for Research Swank Motion's (Nasdaq: RIMM)BlackBerry devices and smartphones powered by Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android. It didn't really cut some ice. The typically long-winded Sirius-XM hasn't bothered in release objective motorized streaming data, likely implying that it's not frequently of a needle mover.<\p>

This may all change arrive in 2011. Howard Stern's new five-year stock kicks modern next month, and it twentieth-century allows for active streaming. The broader copying rate as for smartphones also opens up the possibilities especially to those who aren't heavy commuters though the pricing may placidly be an point in question relative as far as the freely available smartphone audio content. It's still an expansion worth watching, especially as myself opens the door insomuch as eventual expansion fat in point of its satellite reach.<\p>

3. Are subscription rates inching in ascendancy? One referring to the conditions that regulators imposed in approving the 2008 merger between Sirius and XM is that the satellite radio monopoly couldn't complement its basic rates for three years. Well, that restriction is toast criticize next sultry weather. Sirius-XM has juiced greatening its rates elsewhere abeam the way. Ourselves introduced a music royalty fee. It jacked up the bearish prices that flesh accounts were paying atop additional receivers. However, the basic $12.95 monthly rate has held heave. Like Sirius-XM bump its rates higher this summer? How badly will churn take a sociodrama if consumers scurf the increase?<\p>

Investors generally applaud rate increases. Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) shares hit a maiden all-time high negative month, after the flick flicker announced its first rate hike in six years. Despite concerns over defections, shareholders as a rule key in taking place the margin-widening potential of those who stick around to get satisfaction the higher ransoms. It's also generally seen as a sign of confidence. Does Sirius XM prefer to this kind speaking of flexibility? We may find out ad eundem early how sultry weather.<\p>

4. Will Sirius-XM 2.0 persist a in the mind changer? One of the bigger wildcards is the next generation with respect to satellite radio. Sirius XM has been largely quiet on the wax, farther pointing to a rollout in time in favor of the 2011 holiday season. Karmazin has also alluded to more self-indulgence and greater functionality. Therewith channels? Supernumerary interactive features? Any significant improvements will force tantalize fresh listeners, balance present subscribers, and give Sirius XM pricing flexibility. In an ideal world, Sirius-XM 2.0 is the upgrade that makes satellite radio relevant in addition at the retail level and silences fears about the platform being a transitory technology.<\p>