SIRIUS Satellite Radio To Introduce Traffic Data Services

Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio today announced that, beginning in November 2005, it will broadcast traffic data from 22 major U.S. metropolitan areas over its nationwide system.

SIRIUS will utilize its nationwide satellite radio broadcast capabilities to provide subscribers with updated traffic information from traffic data provider NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT). NAVTEQ, the premier provider of mapping and traffic data reporting services, collects and quality tests traffic information from a multitude of sources, including police and emergency services and road sensors, creating a database of traffic-related incident and speed information to help drivers select the best available route.

The 22 metro areas that will initially be covered are Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco/Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa and Washington D.C. SIRIUS expects to expand the service to over 50 cities by 2007.

The first unit to provide the new traffic data service will be the SiriusConnect SIR-ALP10T tuner, which interfaces with Alpine Electronics' new NVE-N872A Satellite Traffic Ready navigation system. This service will keep subscribers informed about potential delays or incidents along the route, including road speed and flow information, unscheduled traffic incidents, and scheduled road closures and road work.

The SiriusConnect SIR-ALP10T tuner, the first SIRIUS tuner to incorporate both audio entertainment and traffic data services, will be able to simultaneously receive and play SIRIUS' programming while monitoring the data channel for traffic messages. Through its broadcast data service, SIRIUS will deliver NAVTEQ's information to the SIR-ALP10T tuner, which interfaces with the Alpine NVE-N872A Satellite Traffic Ready navigation system. The unique structure of SIRIUS' data service will allow other data services, such as weather, to be seamlessly added in the future.

The suggested retail price for the SiriusConnect SIR-ALP10T tuner is $299.99, and $1,700 for the Alpine NVE-N872A Satellite Traffic Ready navigation system (navigation monitor sold separately). Alpine Satellite Radio-Ready headunits range from $250 to $1,600, including two models with built-in navigation monitors. The SIRIUS traffic data service bundled with SIRIUS' regular audio programming will cost $16.99 per month or $9.99 per month for traffic data only. The Alpine NVE-N872A is scheduled to be available in late September this year, and the SIR-ALP 10T is scheduled to be available in November.

Click on www.sirius.com to listen to SIRIUS live, or to find a SIRIUS retailer or car dealer in your area.

SOURCE SIRIUS Satellite Radio