Interoperable Technologies, LLC is satellite radio’s joint venture. Formed in 2003 as an independent Delaware corporation, our parents are SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Inc., who agreed to develop a unified standard for a common receiver platform. The common or dual-mode receiver platform enables consumers to purchase one radio capable of receiving the services of both XM and SIRIUS. The related technology is jointly developed and funded by our parent companies, who share in its ownership. Indeed, in 2005, we substantially completed the design of a radio capable of receiving both services.
It is acknowledged that SIRIUS, XM and their manufacturing partners already produce receivers that permit end users to access all Satellite Digital Audio Radio systems in compliance with FCC interoperability obligations. Furthermore, there currently is no assurance that the XM or Sirius manufacturing partners will build dual-mode radios, that they will be cost competitive, or that any significant market for dual-mode radios will develop. Even so, Interoperable Technologies stands to develop the opportunity for dual-mode satellite radio technology.
Having all XM and SIRIUS programming available together in a single radio can be quite the compelling experience. Or, for those consumers unsure of which of two great services to commit to, offering a choice between SIRIUS or XM - independent of purchased hardware may lower entry barriers and further accelerate the adoption of this exciting new media. To these ends, Interoperable Technologies continues to develop dual-mode receiver technology able to receive either or both satellite radio services.
Prior to joining the satellite radio industry to head Interoperable Technologies, Mike practiced intellectual property law as a partner at Fleit Kain. During the late 1990s, he was Chief IP Counsel at high tech start-ups pioneering S-CDMA technology for the China Telco market and portable digital FM systems for the US market. The first 18 years of Mike’s career were with Motorola, where he successfully engineered over a dozen high quality wireless data products for the Japan market. Mike has the unique distinction of being the only practicing attorney to attain both Master Innovator and Science Advisory Board status at Motorola. Mike has over 85 issued US patents in a variety of technologies.
Paul Kelley has more than 20 years of engineering experience developing digital solutions for consumer electronics. He is responsible for all aspects of baseband hardware and software development at Interoperable Technologies. Prior to joining the satellite radio industry, he was with Motorola for seven years, where, as a Principal ASIC designer, he developed digital subsystems for the i.250 and i.300 mobile phone platforms and the Flexchip paging IC. Paul was also Director of Product Development at Clariti Telecommunications, where he was responsible for hardware and software development of a wireless voicemail receiver that processed the FM SCA spectrum. Paul has also engineered disk drive and modem technology. He currently has 9 issued US patents.
Ken brings over 20 years of RF/microwave design and development experience with wireless devices. Prior to joining the satellite radio industry, Ken founded his own company that provided worldwide RF/microwave training and consulting in cooperation with Besser Associates and CEI of Europe. Companies including Motorola, Nokia, HP, Lucent, Nortel and Ericsson regularly benefited from Ken’s expertise. He developed automated RF design software including the Oscillator DesignGuide for Agilent Technologies. Ken designs high performance, low cost, high volume RF circuits using his command of computer RF circuit simulation software packages including ADS, MDS, and Microwave Office. He has substantial experience with EM simulation tools such as Momentum and HFSS. During his 12 years at Motorola, Ken pioneered active and passive device component modeling and introduced new modeling strategies that increased simulation accuracy by an order of magnitude.