XM Satellite Radio was created on June 6th, 1992 as the American Mobile Radio Corporation. They got the approval from the FCC on March 10th, 1997 to proceed with building a radio communication system when they were granted a Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service License. 1998 was a big year for American Mobile Radio. Pioneer and Alpine started the creation of the first satellite radios; ST Microelectronics began the conception of satellite radio chipsets; and AMRC officially became the XM Satellite Radio Inc. In 1999, XM receives its first $250 million dollars from investor. In late 1999, XMSR had its IPO with 10 million shares of stock at $12 a share. XM became portable in 2000, when Sony started the creation of the home to car portable satellite radio systems. XM's first satellite radio prototype is demonstrated in 2000, but the consumer products don't get to the shelves until March, 2001. Consumer products are being sold even before "Rock;" the first of XM's satellites launched in March of 2001; and "Roll;" XM's second satellite launched in May of 2001. Satellite radio services didn't officially start until September 25, 2001.
XM has been attempting to create strong relationships with some of the major corporations. They do not produce any of the physical hardware that the consumers purchase, and so they rely on hardware manufacturers like Alpine, Eclipse, and Pioneer to create the receivers for their signals. XM wants to provide quality service to people on the move, but they do not produce vehicles; so they have been partnering with the automobile and trucking corporations like Freightliner, General Motors, and SAAB. Retailers like Car Toys, Crutchfield, and Wal-Mart have joined the collection to sell the product lines to the consumers. Even BBC, NASCAR, and National Geographic have taken a part of the action by offering quality programming to the masses XM hopes to reach.