XM Acquires Wireless Firm

By Digital Trends Staff July 13, 2005

XM Radio has been making some interesting moves this week to grow themselves. First the announcement about the Network Live venture with AEG & AOL and now word today that they have purchased a private company known as WCS Wireless.

WCS Wireless, according to a press release from XM, owns wireless spectrum licenses in geographic areas covering 163 million people throughout the United States, including 15 of the top 20 metropolitan areas. On average, these licenses include 10 megahertz in the frequency bands adjacent to XM’s satellite radio service.

Pending government approval, the two companies expect the merger to be complete by year’s end. Though XM did not provide specific details, they see the acquisition as a way to expand into â€œa variety of multimedia subscription servicesâ€, including video and data offerings, which would be transmitted over the WCS frequencies.

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