Sirius introduces wearable satellite radio device

Sirius has combined the ability of the iPod and a TiVo for satellite radio with its first wearable device released Thursday.

The Sirius S50, which will be available in stores in October, can store up to 50 hours of programming and MP3 or Windows media files, allowing users to bring recorded radio along with their own songs on the go.

The device, about the size of an iPod, receives the programming only while connected to a docking station at home or in a car.

Although the device cannot play live radio when it’s not docked, it offers clear, uninterrupted recorded programming anywhere, said Patrick Reilly, spokeswoman for Sirius.

“You can go in a subway,” Reilly said. “You can go in a health club. You can go in a bunker, and you will still be listening to 50 hours of radio.”

The announcement highlights the stiff competition between rivals Sirius and XM satellite radio. Last month, XM announced it would release a similar product by Samsung.

XM already has three portable devices that play live radio on the go, though the devices, retailing at $299, store less programming – about 5 hours. XM’s soon-to-be-released MP3 players will hold 25 hours or 50 hours, and, like the S50, will record programming while docked, XM spokesman Chance Patterson said.

Sirius also said Thursday it will broadcast traffic data for 22 cities nationwide. A special receiver will play Sirius programming and transmit the traffic data to a car navigation system.

“It was inevitable that Sirius or XM would convince someone to build this device,” said Ted Schadler, vice president principal analyst at Forrester Research, a technology research company in Cambridge, Mass. “MP3 players already have FM receivers – this just replaces FM with a Sirius receiver.”

The S50 carries a suggest retail price of $360, including accessories such as a car dock, a 6-hour rechargeable battery, AC adapter, and ear buds. A home docking station, including accessories, will cost an extra $100.