Satellite stations join with music download services

Napster, the online music service, has entered into an alliance with satellite pay-radio station XM, to enable its subscribers to buy the music they hear. The joint venture will take advantage of next-generation MP3 players which are able to receive satellite radio stations.

XM/MP3 digital music players will allow users to bookmark songs they hear on the radio, so that they can then purchase them online.

The convergence of satellite radio stations with music players and other portable devices, has long been anticipated. Earlier in the year, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc held discussions with Apple about adding its service to iPods.

XM’s MyFi portable radio device was launched in October, when XM’s chief executive Hugh Panero predicted that portable satellite players and portable music-storing players would eventually be combined.