SIRIUS Backstage has learned that on-air talent Michelle Visage will exit The Beat, SIRIUS’ dance hits channel.

Visage, who had several pop and dance hits in the early 90s, has been a host on The Beat for more than two years.

From 1996-2003, she was a morning radio co-host on WKTU. From 2003-2005, she co-hosted “The Jamz Session” on Hot 92 Jamz (KHHT) in Los Angeles. She joined Mix 102.7 in New York City in 2005 and is co-host with “Brookyn’s Own” Joe Causi of The Morning Mix (WNEW-FM).

The latest Crutchfield Catalog contains details about the strongly-rumored Sirius Stiletto. There is over a half-page dedicated to discussing the details; here are the most important features:

-built-in antenna for live on the go listening
-wifi available for places you cannot get live reception but have a wifi hotspot
-100 hours of playback, likely based on a 2GB flash drive
-can support MP3 or WMA technology
-car dock with direct entry and other features
-two batteries, a regular, and a slightly larger with extended playback
-MSRP: $399
-Record programming in up to six hour blocks
-Works with Microsoft’s Play for Sure, which allows you to use subscription services such as Napster or Yahoo! Music
-New Boombox being released for it
-Antenna headphones are INCLUDED with the base kit

More information, another pic, and a place to comment here

Kristen Bell drops in on The Morning Mash Up to talk about her new scary movie Pulse.

The Veronic Mars star plans to dish about her boyfriend, their first date, and even her breakfast habits.

Catch the interview Friday morning at 7am ET, with a rebroadcast @ 10 am ET, on SIRIUS Hits 1.

Haneen Arafat, long time program director for SIRIUS’ slate of Adult Contemporary programming, has announced that she is departing after more than 6 years with the company.

All Access is reporting that Arafat “will exit on FRIDAY (8/11) to focus on her voice talent business full time”.

Arafat was in charge of day-to-day programming decisions and playlist management for Starlite, The Pulse and SIRIUS Love. She also lent her voice on-air to Starlite and the Nordic Rox show, as well as special liners across the SIRIUS service.

She is one of the original music talents to join the company, that includes Pop music legend Kid Kelly and free-form radio expert Meg Griffin.

This move may signal a music lineup shakeup at SIRIUS. We’ll provide more insight as it becomes available.

The SIRIUS Backstage team had the chance to meet and interact with Haneen during her tenure at SIRIUS, and we have great respect for her willingness to reach out to SIRIUS fans. We wish Haneen well and expect great things in her future.

Comment here.

The first known use of the SIRIUS Emergency Alert System occured this morning.

Satellite Standard Group reports:

On my drive this morning I was enjoying the Jay Thomas Show on Sirius Stars when an “Emergency Bulletin” came out regarding the terror plot that was foiled in London. The message stated the basic facts, gave an update as to the status of the alert code color, and referred people to Fox News, CNN News, CNN Headline News, or BBC World News. The message also gave out the appropriate Sirius channel numbers.

Comment here.

SIRIUS said today that manufacturer Kiryung Electronics Co. has received FCC approval to resume production and distribution on three radio models.

The authorization comes for the Xact Visor, Sirius One and Sportster Replay radios.
Sirius said the grants were issued after the FCC’s laboratory confirmed that the devices were compliant with applicable rules.

Earlier this week, SIRIUS manufacturer Wistron NeWeb said they are expecting to fix related problems in two weeks and begin shipments to SIRIUS soon.

Comment here.

SIRIUS has also filed earlier this month for the service marks “Stratus” and “Speedster”, both likely future SIRIUS receivers.

Equipment for receiving broadcast radio transmissions; equipment for playing, recording, organizing, manipulating, and reviewing text, data and audio files

via Satellite Radio TechWorld

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SIRIUS Satellite Radio has filed for a series of trademarks all revolving around the accronym “SIR” for Sirius Internet Radio. All three applications provide the following decription…

Radio broadcasting services; webcasting services; streaming of audio, visual and data information via a global computer network, mobile telephone or other electronic or digital communications network or digital communications device; electronic and digital transmission and delivery of voice, data, text, images, graphics, signals and messages via a global computer network, mobile telephone or other electronic or digital communications network or device; providing audio, visual and data information available for download via a global computer network, mobile telephone or other electronic or digital communications network or digital communications device

I assume this can only be related to the rumored WiFi service support on the upcoming Sirius Stiletto SL100 and the Zing-powered device (whatever it’ll be called).

Story from Orbitcast.com
via Satellite Radio TechWorld

Comment here.

Wistron NeWeb (a key Sirius radio manufacturer) saw its revenues decline to a two-year low of US$25.4 million in July due to delayed shipment of its satellite radio products to Sirius Satellite Radio, according to analysts at local securities houses.

Wistron was unable to ship a batch of their next-gen of satellite radio products to Sirius on time in July as the products failed to meet FCC requirements. Wistron, together with Sirius, says they are expecting to fix related problems in two weeks and begin shipments to Sirius soon.

Via Orbitcast and DigiTimes

Comment here.

The upcoming Zing player is said to feature SIRIUS Satellite Radio over WiFi.

Orbitcast is now reporting the Microsoft’s Zune player may support XM streaming content over WiFi:

XM Radio: The WiFi antenna also will help Microsoft to support XM radio on the Zune, something they’ve been looking into. If Zune is to kill the iPod, they need something big that the iPod doesn’t have; this may or may not be it, but they’ll need all the firepower they can get. With the iPod lacking even an FM radio, this could be a big advantage.

It remains to be seen if XM shows up as a dedicated application, or if it’s just wishful thinking on the part of Associated Content. There are several layers of authentication and interface issues to overcome.

At this point, the SIRIUS Zing partnership is much more of a sure thing and we can expect a more polished solution as a result.

Read the full Orbitcast article here.

Comment here.