AOL said on Thursday it has began testing a version of its radio service that includes XM Satellite Radio content. AOL first announced details of the partnership with XM in mid-April, which also includes the company taking over XM's current online radio offering. AOL is requesting during the beta phase that customers send their feedback.

Preliminary tests of the service by BetaNews showed it was free of any major problems. The most noticeable difference between the current XM online service -- and even its broadcast offering -- was sound quality. AOL offered a crisper and less tinny sound than what normally occurs with online radio, and also to some extent with the XM satellite service.