XM to intro world's first route-based weather tracker

XM Satellite Radio this afternoon revealed that it has developed an innovative approach to weather tracking that it hopes will improve long-distance driving for its subscribers. Although based on live mapping data for weather as with many GPS receivers, the XM system uses both the driver's current position and their plotted destination to provide a weather forecast for the entire route. Such a system will give drivers advance warning of blizzards, rainstorms, and other potential hazards along the path before they ever become a threat, XM says. The technology could also help set expectations for vacations before drivers set out. XM will demonstrate the new service through a concept car at next week's CES and expects a final implementation by summer.