Up to 50% of 2009-model U.S. vehicles will feature satellite radio

The proliferation of the technology in the automobile is reaching a critical point as 2010 approaches. Just a couple weeks ago it was revealed that 58% of all 2009 model year cars will have a media player or iPod interface. Today it's satellite radio that has broken through the 50% barrier.

Satellite radio hasn't always been popular; in fact just two years ago, only 15% of new models carried the feature. Doubling that figure to 30% in 2008 and almost doubling again to over 50% for 2009 models, according to Automotive News, satellite radio is on a charge.

The focus of most of the rapidly growing technology inside cars is related directly to music and phone connectivity. Keeping in touch with friends and family while keeping abreast of the latest and hottest trends in music are apparently driving forces in the new-car buying public.

How the impending merger of XM and Sirius, the two satellite radio companies in North America, will affect this expansion is not clear, but it will take time. Developing joint technology - hardware that can interoperate with both satellite systems - and getting it into automobiles could take up to 15 years because of the logistics of both the hardware itself and the car companies.