XM Satellite, Alltel Wireless In Distribution Deal"

NEW YORK (AP)--XM Satellite Radio has made a deal with Alltel Wireless, a cellphone service provider, to distribute some of XM's commercial-free channels over cellphones.

The deal, which is expected to be announced Thursday, mirrors a similar arrangement announced last year between XM's competitor, Sirius Satellite Radio, and Sprint Nextel.

The pact between XM and Alltel will allow Alltel subscribers to get access to 20 XM music channels for a monthly fee of $7.99.

Sirius and Sprint have not said how many customers have signed up for their service, which launched last September.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 10th August 2006