XM Satellite Radio and Napster have announced a partnership to create a new online music service entitled, curiously enough, "XM + Napster." We love the title, but even more we love the concept. This online music service will provide a single interface for users to access, purchase and download music from both XM and Napster.This announcement also includes the announcement of compatable XM/MP3 players using XM Connect-and-Play technology. You'll be able to listen to XM on the go, live, as well as store songs in memory AND mark songs for purchase. Awesome. ...

SIRIUS partnered with DISH Network, so you just knew that XM would hitch with DIRECTV, right? It's the real deal now as DIRECTV has added 25 additional music channels courtesy of XM. The new channels for DIRECTV subscribers are in the 801 - 879 range on your DIRECTV channel guide. I never thought this would come in handy, but I keep tuning in to SIRIUS on my DISH set-top boxes; besides, free content is never a bad thing now, is it? ...

For those anxiously awaiting the news, XM Radio’s third satellite, XM-3, successfully reached orbit. Due to flaws in the solar panel design of XM-1 and XM-2 (Rock and Roll), XM-3 and XM-4 will need to be launched to eventually replace the early failing power of the first two. Rock and Roll will move to supplementing each other’s signals until XM-4 is launched potentially later this year, according to some reports. ...

Not meant to be a "portable" unit like the iMX2, the Altec Lansing XM3020 is a more affordable solution for those who want to make their XM2go units heard by everyone around them. With 2" drivers bumping a whopping 6 watts of RMS power, you'll have a nice sounding (as well as nice looking) system for your home or office.No batteries to power these speakers, but you do get an external antenna with a 20 foot cord. And hell, for only $100 it's pretty damn cheap as well. ...

XM Satellite Radio will be covering LIVE 8 performances from London, Paris, Berlin, Rome and Philadelphia starting on 9am Eastern Time July 2, 2005. The exclusive LIVE 8 broadcasts start in London and Paris on XM Channel 200 (XM LIVE) and Berlin, Rome and Philadelphia on XM Channel 201 (XM LIVE II).LIVE 8 also marks XM Satellite Radio's month-love celebration of live music lovingly titled "JULIVE" because it will run for the month of... July! Good stuff. ...

On Friday afternoon, I dropped $69.99 on a car adapter kit for my XM Delphi Skyfi2. A couple hours later, and I was on an 1,181 mile roadtrip across the country to Minneapolis, Minnesota. I kept track of what I listened to on my trip (and what I thought about it), and here's the first part, from Philadelphia to Minneapolis. The return trip will be documented on Thursday. ...

XM launched their live coverage of Major League Baseball’s spring training this week. They have an extensive schedule available for the next few days. ...

Hooray, both first-quarter financial reports are in from both Sirius and XM.Bad news first, Sirius has posted a wider first-quarter loss, though their revenue has quadrupled from last year. XM has out-performed the analysts by closing the loss gap and more than doubling their revenue in their first-quarter report. Let's be fair: Both Sirius and XM are both posting some pretty big losses, but the first quarter reports shows XM ahead in terms of adding subscribers and paying off the debt. ...

XM Satellite Radio has announced that it will acquire WCS Wireless, expected to close before the end of the year pending government approval. The acquisition in exchange for 5.5 million shares of XMSR stock. XM will be getting WCS Wireless' wireless spectrum licenses in areas covering 163 million people throughout the United States, including 15 of the top 20 metropolitan markets.WCS Wireless licenses include the 10 megahertz frequency bands - these are adjacent to XM's satellite radio service. The acquisition of WCS Wireless gives XM an exceptional opportunity to expand its existing business with a variety of multimedia subscription services, including data and video, transmitted over these new frequencies. ...

Over at Forbes.com, they are reporting on information from research firm RBC Capital Markets, that issued a client note on XM that reiterated its "Outperform" rating on XM stock. But the big item that is discussed is that the analyst thinks there will be three distribution channels in three years. Those three channels are OEM, aftermarket and cell phone operators. The analyst thinks that XM should sign a deal with a cell phone operator, and that the technology hurdles will be overcome to allow good integration with XM and cell phones. Do you think satellite radio and cell phone should be integrated? ...

A day after laughing about the viability of Sirius’s 2006 streaming video offering to the back seats of cars, XM’s technology partner On2 demonstrated how their video compression technology, chosen by XM, would work in automobiles. Hmm. It looks like XM was prepared to show that they can get into the game, but choose not to enter the market yet. ...

XM will provide comprehensive coverage of the upcoming Grammy Awards on GRAMMY Radio, a channel the satellite radio provider is launching February 6th and running through the 8th. The channel, to be broadcast on XM's channel 200, will cover interviews with attendees as they enter the awards ceremony as well as the other events such as the Trustee Awards Ceremony and Lifetime Achievement Awards. A complete list of coverage and events can be found at the special Grammys page on XM's website. ...

Well it was just around a year and a month ago that it was reported that XM signed a deal with AirTran airlines, and now it is with United. On March 2nd, United announced that starting this month XM will be providing up to 19 channels of in-flight audio. It looks like this is just for a limited time as the release says "For a promotional period..." when describing the offering of channels by XM on the United flights. The number of channels available will be based upon the airplane for the flight. ...

XM Satellite Radio has announced plans to add at least 16 new channels to their lineup of offerings. That mix will include ten new commercial-free music stations that run the spectrum from classic rock of the 70's to Gospel and easy listening. The even bigger news is that XM is adding seven local channels that will provide regional news and talk across the country. That provides direct competition to local stations that deal in, you know, news and talk. That brings the total number of channels being offered by XM to over 170. ...

XM has announced a pretty extraordinary new offering: chips and a port that can be easily integrated into existing consumer electronics, like receivers and DVD players, to make the devices XM Ready. Just add a $50 Connect and Play Antenna and sign up for XM, and you’re all set. The device has to, obviously, offer XM menus and so forth, but that’s just firmware or software—XM’s done the heavy lifting. This kind of addition could propel XM’s now 3.2 million subscriber base much further next Christmas when products incorporating such an item would be likely to appear in large numbers. Again, content will be part of the kicker: consumer electronics’ makers have to be convinced that XM offers a more compelling service than Sirius. It’s also pretty clear, though unstated, that CE makers will get some kind of spiff from subscribers who sign up using their devices. There’s no question that some CE makers will sell more equipment with XM built-in, ...