We finally get our first glimpse at the DirecTV's portable video device we've been hearing about, which of course, will be officially announced at CES as well as the "special partnership" for their new mobile content initiative.

Between the Digital License filed by XM and DirecTV, the Network LIVE partnership, and all the other signs - it really smells like XM Satellite Radio is this super-special partner. But hey, that's all just speculation -- just gotta wait till next week to find out.

[Zatz Not Funny via Engadget] 

Delphi released a teaser today that they will be unveiling a major announcement about their satellite radio business at a special media event on January 4th. Speculation abounds about what this could be about and the only clues we have available are what's in the release. Here's a couple juicey tidbits to nibble on:

"Delphi's CES announcement will outline how the company plans to make the satellite radio experience available to even more people."

and... 

"Multimedia Radio - Delphi will introduce a new multimedia radio receiver that is packed with features including MP3, Secure Digital Card (compatible) voice notes and more."

Now, this makes my lil' blogger fingers get all itchy with excitement. "Make the satellite radio experience available to even more people" makes me think there will be a new service somehow integrated into vehicles or their devices. But I think the key here is that this will be about their satellite radio business and not necessarily a device. The Multimedia Radio may only be part of the equation.

So, since we're speculating here, I'm just gonna throw this out there: I have a funny feeling this has something to do with the XM/Fox/DirecTV love-fest we've been hearing so much about. My guess is that XM and DirecTV will make an announcement at CES 2006 that unveils a portable video/satellite radio device - produced by Delphi - and that outlines a deeper partnership for the future. Pure speculation, but hey, you never know.

[Press Release] 

Apparently there's some chatter that United Airlines will be adding XM Satellite Radio to their Fleet, with the 737s being first. Jetfuel was added to the fire when XM's Chairman Gary Parsons said yesterday, "We are in the seatbacks of AirTran and Jetblue and I think you´ll see increasing penetrations of that through other airliners as we go forward."

A formal announcement is expected soon, and while all fine and dandy, something that raises eyebrows in my book is that there's talk of about 50 channels being made available internationally.

Now, as we all know, both SIRIUS and XM can only cover North America, but me thinks that the XM / WorldSpace partnership from a few months back, and the rumors of XM hell-bent on world domination, are starting to come to fruition.

Currently this should be considered a rumor, though the source links states it as a "very LOUD rumor."

[Airliners.net]