Established and popular: XM satellite radio has been around a little longer than Sirius. It also has a higher subscriber base of over two million compares to Sirius, which has under one million.

Quality and clarity: There really isn’t much in it when it comes to quality and clarity of sound. Because XM and Sirius are both satellite radio providers, listeners can enjoy crystal clear sound and uninterrupted entertainment with either of these services. With both services available across Continental United States you can enjoy widespread digital entertainment wherever you are in country.

Choice: Again, there is not much in it when it comes to choice. Both XM radio and Sirius can offer over one hundred channels of music, entertainment, news and even commercial-free entertainment. Because of choice available with both of these providers, there is likely to be something to suit every taste with both XM and Sirius satellite radio. However, there are some differences in programming choice – although both do offer plenty of choice. It may be worth looking at actual programs themselves to see which service will offer most channels that suit your tastes and needs.

Cost of service: There is a slight difference in price when it comes to monthly subscription fees. With XM radio you can enjoy a monthly subscription fee of $9.99. With Sirius, monthly subscription fee is $12.95. However, Sirius also offers a range of block subscription options, and these can help to dramatically reduce cost of subscribing to its satellite radio service.

Activation fees: You can activate your service with XM radio for $9.99 via website, and if you wish to activate by phone it will cost you $14.99. To activate Sirius via website will cost you $5.00 and to activate via phone will cost $15.00.

Cancellation procedures: You can cancel both Sirius and XM at anytime. If you cancel Sirius prior to expiration of a prepaid subscription you may receive a refund of any unused subscription fee. If you cancel XM before expiration of a prepaid subscription you will also receive a refund of unused subscription, but you may be charged a cancellation fee of $75.00.

Listening online: You can listen online with both Sirius and XM. With Sirius this service is already included as part of monthly subscription cost, With XM you have to pay an additional $3.99 per month for this service.

Additional radios: You can get these with both Sirius and XM. You can get 2-4 additional radios with Sirius at $6.99 per month, and 2-5 with XM for same cost of $6.00 per month.

Subscription costs: The subscription costs and formats differ slightly between Sirius and XM. The structure is as follows:

Sirius

$12.95 per month $142.45 per year $271.95 per two years $499.99 for a lifetime

XM $9.99 per month $199 per two years $289 per three years $369 per four years $449 per five years

Conclusion

Based on service, choice, and quality it is very difficult to determine whether one service is better than other. Clearly Sirius offers more cost effect subscription options, and on other hand XM is longest standing and most popular of two services. The service providers you select will be largely based on your needs and your budget.

The best way to ascertain which is going to be best satellite radio service provider for your needs is to make comparisons, which can be easily done online. Compare reviews from other users, compare cost of receivers and other equipment, and compare programming choice available from each of these providers.

Whether you select Sirius or whether you go for XM you will still be able to enjoy high definition satellite radio, crystal clear sound, over one hundred channels of pure entertainment, and widespread accessibility. Making some comparisons will enable you to determine whether one satellite radio providers offers anything over and above other that will meets your specific needs or provide a more cost effective option for you.

1. You have better control of your proof of delivery documents. 1. They will be in system faster 2. You know if one is missing at end of day so you can do something about immediately. 3. Once they are in system you will not loose them. 4. You can retrieve them instantly. 2. All customer documents relating to a transaction can be retrieved quickly to answer questions and resolve issues. 3. Imaged documents can be emailed or faxed from imaging system.

Again you need to look at your current process and determine, if you automate POD process, will there be a good ROI.

Other areas where document imaging will help provide an ROI:

* Sending MSDS sheets with product orders * Work orders * Manufacturing documents * Quality control * Sending certifications with product orders

In my early years in business I would work with a company and not ask money questions. I soon found that if company had not answered money questions it was difficult to get a sign-off, and most of time project would die. When I work with a company today these are first issues I deal with. I know that most organizations have a need for document imaging and many of these organizations have an easy ROI.

If funds are available, proceed to next set of issues.

1. Who initiated project? 2. What problem(s) are they trying to solve? * Define problem(s) * How will document imaging solve problem? 3. Are there other departments in company that are interested or are there other departments you think will jump on band wagon once a system is in place? 4. What other departments in company should be involved.

Who initiated project can often be key to success of acquiring a document imaging system. If a high level executive is championing project it will be easier to get approved.

In some cases problem(s) will insure that a system will be installed, if it will solve problem, regardless of ROI.

When you invest in a document imaging system your goal should be to leverage system to fullest extent. So it is important to look for all areas that can benefit from document imaging technology. To do this you need to understand document imaging technology and how it can be applied. That will be covered in part 2 of this series of articles.

Almost any company that can justify a document imaging system will have several departments that will be able to use system. But, (there is always a but) do not try to solve everyone’s problems with initial project. It will become too complicated and overwhelming and nothing will get done. Pick one area like accounts payable. Once that is up and running move to another area.

Part 2 of this series will discuss how document imaging technology is used to solve some of most common problems.