XM Canada Streaming on Telus Mobile Radio Reviewed

MobileMag got the chance to review the XM Canada service being streamed to select cell phones via Telus Mobile Radio. As previously reported, the mobile XM service is only available for two of Telus' phones - the LG 8100 and the Samsung A950 - and MobileMag focused on the latter for their review (more phones are soon to be enabled in the future).

As suspected, the XM SDARS chip isn't embedded within the phone but rather the 1X and EVDO high-speed network is utilized to provide the 20 available channels. Speaking of channels, yes it's a limited selection, but they do try to give a wide variety - from 20 on 20, to XM Pops, to The Verge, to High Voltage 202.

From reading the review, I'd say one of the biggest drawbacks is the spotty signal. You need good fairly decent mobile signal to get any of the action (at least two bars).

A big PRO though is the sound quality (wha?!). Amazingly enough, MobileMag found that the sound quality of the XM Canada service was surprisingly clear and impressive. Even with the lack of bass, which for a cell phone isn't unexpected, MobileMag was still "surprisingly impressed with both the sound quality and sound production of Telus Mobile Radio on the Samsung A950."

Read the full review on MobileMag.