Nokia, TiVo, iriver, Logitech and Other Category-Leading CE Companies License RealNetworks' Rhapsody DNA Technology to Deliver Seamless On-Demand Access to More Than 3 Million Songs SEATTLE and LAS VEGAS — January 8, 2007 — RealNetworks®, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNWK), the global leader in digital media delivery, today announced that a number of leading consumer electronics companies, including Nokia, TiVo, iriver, Logitech, SigmaTel, and Telechips, have licensed its Rhapsody® DNA technology platform and plan to build support for Rhapsody DNA into products and services shipping in 2007. These new partnerships will help make the award-winning Rhapsody digital music service accessible virtually anywhere, from your PC to your home stereo to your portable music player. The news underscores growing support for the Rhapsody DNA platform among leaders in the home audio, portable device, chipset and middleware markets. "Our vision for Rhapsody is to deliver seamless and personalized access to millions of songs, on-demand and from any device," said Dan Sheeran, senior vice president of music and video, RealNetworks. "Last October, we released tools and technologies that enable CE companies to deliver on that vision by creating products with built-in access to Rhapsody. With industry leaders like Nokia, TiVo, SanDisk, iriver, and Sonos embracing Rhapsody DNA, we look forward to a steady stream of Rhapsody-enabled CE products in 2007." "Combining Real's Rhapsody DNA technology with our award-winning TiVo service will make it easy for consumers to enjoy Rhapsody from the comfort of their living rooms," said Jim Denney, vice president of product marketing at TiVo. Rhapsody DNA is a technology platform and set of marketing programs that enable CE makers to extend the award-winning Rhapsody digital music experience beyond the PC to portable and in-home devices through features such as the ability to browse the Rhapsody Music Guide and My Library menus, instant song playback, and access to Rhapsody's critically-acclaimed editorial content. Additional information about Rhapsody DNA and Rhapsody DNA licensing can be found at http://webservices.rhapsody.com. Portable Audio RealNetworks also announced that Nokia is integrating Rhapsody DNA support into the Nokia N800, the newest generation of its groundbreaking Nokia Internet Tablet product line and is demonstrating the Rhapsody service with the product at its booth during CES 2007. The sleek, pocket sized Nokia N800 device is a desktop Linux-based handheld product dedicated to convenient Internet browsing, messaging, email communications and other applications over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth phone data connections. Using the new Nokia N800, consumers will be able to wirelessly access Rhapsody virtually anywhere and enjoy their favorite music on the device's stereo speakers or with headset. The Nokia N800 Internet Tablet includes a high-resolution widescreen display (4.13") with zoom, an on-screen keyboard, and intuitive thumb navigation that is ideal for browsing for music through Rhapsody. Rhapsody support on the Nokia N800 device is expected to be available in February. Digital Living Room Real also announced it is working with Logitech to give consumers direct access to Rhapsody via the Logitech Squeezebox™ and Transporter home audio players. In an industry first, consumers can search the entire Rhapsody library for specific artists, albums and songs — and then instantly play selections using the intuitive Squeezebox and Transporter remote interface without having to interact with a PC. The new Rhapsody feature-set for the Squeezebox and Transporter is expected to be available in the United States from Logitech on January 15 (see companion release). A number of other device OEMs, including Dedicated Devices, Inc., D-Link, NETGEAR, Pepper Computer, and Roku have licensed Real's Rhapsody DNA platform for inclusion in their products. CE Industry Real also announced today that many of the market's leading home audio middleware providers, including BridgeCo, Digital Deck, DigiOn, Mediabolic, Oregan Networks, Syabas Technology, and Verismo Networks, have also licensed Real's Rhapsody DNA technology and are building support for Rhapsody DNA into their middleware. RealNetworks pioneered the unlimited access music service model, and currently leads the market for those services with more than 1.65 million subscribers to Rhapsody and its other premium music services. Since launching in 2001, Rhapsody has received multiple industry awards and honors. In 2006, Rhapsody earned Billboard's Digital Entertainment Media and Marketing Excellence award for the Best Downloadable or Subscription Music Service, Entertainment Weekly named Rhapsody one of its "25 Best Music Websites," and PC World honored Rhapsody with a 2006 World Class Award in its annual list of "100 Best Products." For More Information: RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading creator of digital media services and software including Rhapsody, RealPlayer® 10, and casual PC and mobile games. Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to create and deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software at http://www.real.com. RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com. RealNetworks and Rhapsody are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Consumer Electronics Leaders Embrace Rhapsody DNA Platform
RealNetworks today announced that it is working with Reigncom, maker of the popular iriver portable multimedia devices, to introduce two new Rhapsody DNA-enhanced portable players this spring (see companion release). These flash-based devices include a groundbreaking Wi-Fi enabled MP3 player that will allow consumers to download, stream and share their favorite music over the air directly to the device via the award-winning Rhapsody digital music service, and the iriver clix 2, a new and enhanced version of iriver's acclaimed clix line of players.
Real is also working with manufacturers of set-top boxes and home audio devices to enable direct playback of Rhapsody's music and radio stations via their devices. In support of that effort, Real today announced that it is working with TiVo, Inc. to integrate Rhapsody DNA support into TiVo digital video recorders. Later this year, TiVo customers will have from-the-couch access to Rhapsody's library of over 3 million songs right through their TiVo (see companion release).
To make it easier for CE device makers to integrate Rhapsody into their products, Real is working with leading chip makers and middleware providers to integrate support for Rhapsody DNA. Real today announced that two of the leading chipset manufacturers for portable devices, SigmaTel, Inc. and Telechips Inc., have licensed Real's Rhapsody DNA technology.
Ronda Scott
RealNetworks
415-934-2016
rscott@real.comABOUT REALNETWORKS
Sun, 01/07/2007