No, XM satellite radio is not free, but you can pay a lifetime subscription price at the time you activate your radio that is worth it if you plan to keep your radio for a long time. They have a...
1986
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirius_satellite_radio
The ticker symbol for XM Satellite Radio is XMSR and it is traded on the Nasdaq.
XM and Sirius want to merge because they think the combined company will be more profitable than the companies would be operating separately