Sirius XM SkyDock and More

Sirius XM this afternoon held an event to launch its fall lineup of satellite radio gear and headed it up with the first-ever satellite radio peripheral for the iPhone. Confirming rumors, the XM SkyDock (shown at top) will let subscribers to the XM half of the company's service tune into the actual satellite feed through an iPhone or iPod touch. It has both the true receiver as well as the antenna and so won't require an active Internet connection like the existing Sirius XM Internet radio app for Apple's devices.

Audio is beamed to the car through an FM transmitter or a bundled aux-in cable depending on the built-in audio system. A magnetic mount is an option and cradles the iPhone or iPod in either a vertical (portrait) or horizontal (landscape) mode.

The SkyDock should ship in the fall for about $120 but will need a companion XM SkyDock app that is planned to launch in the App Store at about the same time. An XM subscription will be required, but those who subscribe to the Best of Sirius package or better can also get access to Sirius channels, including Howard Stern and others that are normally off-limits to the Internet version of the service.

By Electronista Staff