XM Satellite Radio reports it added more than 640,000 new subscribers during the second quarter of 2005 for a total of more than 4.4 million subscribers. The gain represents a 53 percent increase, compared to the second quarter of 2004, and an 18 percent increase over the first quarter, said the company.

“This was the best second quarter in the history of XM. In just one year, XM has more than doubled its subscriber base from 2.1 million in the second quarter of 2004 to over 4.4 million subscribers today,” said Hugh Panero, president/CEO.

In separate news, Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels and XM said Hyatt will provide XM service free of charge to its hotel guests starting this fall.

Hyatt is the first hotel to offer free satellite radio service.

The multiyear agreement will bring XM to more than 50,000 guest rooms in the United States, it said.

Also, XM and Waltham, Mass.-based Raytheon recently demonstrated a communications system that uses XM' s satellites to relay information to soldiers and emergency response teams during a crisis.

According to XM, the U.S. military has asked for proposals for an alternative communications system for the Mobile Enhanced Situational Awareness Network (MESA). In response, XM and Raytheon have been developing an emergency communications system for the past year and have applied for the contract along with other satellite companies such as Boeing, said an XM spokesman.