Noah Samara, WorldSpace chairman, said the new system will use small satellite radio receivers about the size of current-day transistor radios and deliver digital quality sound.

CNN: Ariane rocket orbits U.S. communications satellites

Satellite companies like Hughes Electronics and EchoStar Communications are encroaching on cable's territory, carrying hundreds of channels, including local offerings, with digital-quality picture and sound.

FORBES: All Over the Map

Jasper is making up for the revenue shortfall by pitching his audio technologies to new customers, winning a place for it in both the hot Xbox 360 game machine and as an option in all new Volvo models, which will offer home-theater-quality Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

FORBES: Seeing in Dolby

It has adequate sound quality but cannot compare to the finest digital playback systems.

ENGADGET: HiFiMAN launches HM-901 'high resolution' audio player, we go ears and hands on

In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 18.6 million customers more than 130 HD channels and Dolby-Digital(R) 5.1 theater-quality sound (when available), access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), award winning technology like its DIRECTV(R) DVR Scheduler and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for nine years running.

ENGADGET: blogger-avatar

In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 18.6 million customers access to 160 HD channels and Dolby-Digital(R) 5.1 theater-quality sound (when available), access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), award winning technology like its DIRECTV(R) DVR Scheduler and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for nine years running.

ENGADGET: n3D presents History Channel's The Universe in 3D on July 30

The company is bringing a new version of its Digital Plus technology to tablets, phones and laptops with the aim of enhancing sound quality, and also making movie dialog easier to make out.

ENGADGET: Next generation of Dolby Digital Plus coming soon to tablets and phones, we go ears-on (video)

Not only is video performance absolutely superb -- easily beating the competition -- sound quality is another strong point thanks to Nokia's Rich Recording technology, which uses MEMS digital microphones and enables clear, distortion-free audio capture at levels up to 140-145dBs.

ENGADGET: Nokia 808 PureView review: the future of mobile imaging, wrapped in the smartphone past