XM Radio Offers PC Receiver

In a move that will extend its quest for musical ubiquity, XM will move its subscription-based radio service beyond the car and boombox platforms to the PC.

XM Satellite Radio announced that it will make a version of its receiver available to PC users.

The XM PC receiver will be sold by retailers for $69.95, according to the company, and will be sold exclusively from PC Connection, an online retailer.

The bundle ships with the receiver, an external box which connects to your PC via a USB connector; an antenna, installation CD, USB cable, and an audio cable. Users have access to all of the XM channels, and the XMs offerings on different channels can be viewed through the PC interface.

XMs service costs $9.99 a month for 100 channels of audio.

XM Radio offers digital-quality radio without the buffering required by older Web-based music services, the company said. However, newer software such the latest version of Microsofts Windows Media services do not require buffering, Microsoft has said.

XM also offers versions of its receiver for living-room home audio equipment, and on versions of the Honda Accord and on 44 General Motors cars by the end of this year. In addition to its availability on GM, Honda, Infiniti and Nissan makes and models, XM will be offered on various 2004 model Toyotas, Audis and Volkswagens beginning later this summer, the company said.

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