February 15, 1999 11:57
Independent Lab and Eight Industry Product Reviews Conclude RealSystem G2 Leading Platform for Streaming Media
Broad Industry Recognition of Product Superiority Coupled with Market Share
Growth Demonstrate RealNetworks Leadership in Streaming Media Market
SEATTLE, Feb 15 /PRNewswire/ -- RealNetworks, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the recognized leader in streaming media, today announced the results of a study by National Software Testing Labs (NSTL), a CMP Media Inc. Company, which concludes that RealSystem(TM) G2 provides the best quality and reliability in the area of data streaming. The December 1998 study assessed the quality and performance characteristics of streaming media systems in a report titled, Comparative Testing of Streaming Media Systems.
In conjunction with this report, there are currently eight independent product reviews that cite RealSystem G2 as the streaming media platform of choice in the areas of quality, ease of use and administration. Additionally, RealSystem G2 has been recognized as the leading streaming media delivery system with many awards and product distinctions.
Product Reviews & Industry Awards
Of the eight independent product reviews, three have recently been published comparing RealSystem G2 to other streaming media systems.
* Network Computing Magazine, "Riding the Next Wave of Streaming Video
Products", RealSystem G2 won the Editor's Choice award, January 11, 1999
* NewMedia Magazine, "Showtime for Streaming Video", RealSystem G2
received an "Awesome" rating, January 1999
* Internet World, "Media System Stays A Generation Ahead",
October 19, 1998
In each of these product comparisons, the conclusion is that RealSystem G2 meets the highest standards of quality and performance. The reviews also conclude that RealSystem G2 surpasses any other streaming media system through its advanced technology, including SureStream(TM), outstanding new audio and video Codecs, as well as system components -- RealPlayer(R) G2, RealProducer(TM) G2 and RealServer(TM) G2 -- exhibiting high levels of functionality.
According to the Internet World comparative product review, "The attention to detail that permeates RealSystem G2 is just one factor that makes G2 the premiere streaming platform. From its SureStream technology to its elegant encoders and flashy players, RealSystem G2 is a generation ahead."
The following is a partial list of other significant independent product reviews underscoring RealSystem G2's technical leadership over the past six months:
* PC Magazine, "Real Improvements," February 9, 1999
* Digital Video, "RealSystem G2 Rocks," January 1999
* PC Week, "G2 Fine-Tunes Internet Video," December 14, 1998
* ZDNet Software Library, "RealPlayer G2," December 2, 1998
* CNET Builder.com, "RealNetworks G2," October 19, 1998
Additionally, RealNetworks RealSystem G2 products have been recognized with the following awards and distinctions in the last six months:
* Network Computing Magazine awarded RealSystem G2 its Editor's Choice
award, January 11, 1999
* NewMedia Magazine appointed RealSystem G2 an "Awesome" rating in their
streaming media comparative review, January 1999
* The 1998 CNET Builder.com Product Awards recognized RealSystem G2 in
the category of Best Multimedia Tool, December 8, 1998
* RealPlayer G2 received a 5-star rating in ZDNet Software Library's
review, December 2, 1998
* PC Computing's MVP Awards, awarded RealNetworks Interactive Bundle in
the category of Web Development, November 16, 1998
* Internet World 1998 Best of Show Award went to RealPlayer Plus(TM) G2
in the area of desktop hardware and software category, October 8, 1998
* Networked Multimedia Awards named RealPlayer Plus G2 the Best New
Streaming Broadcast Product at the DVC '98 Fall Show, October 1998
About the NSTL Conclusion
The NSTL report used a testing methodology that was designed to compare the ability of media players to handle data streaming, with particular focus on the issues of rebuffering and lost packet data in real world conditions. The NSTL report concludes that RealPlayer G2, by dynamically adjusting its data stream, is superior in its ability to handle the encoded stream when the provided bandwidth falls below the optimal setting. Not only that, but, the lower the data rate the greater the superiority.
Additionally, the testing indicated favorably that the RealPlayer was able to keep a consistently reliable stream of song data flowing to the user, where the comparison group would many times experience either excessive rebuffering or total "loss of connection" with the content server. The conclusion of this report is available from RealNetworks' Web site, real.com.
Growth in Streaming Media
There are now more than 50 million registered unique users of RealPlayer, the largest absolute growth of any consumer desktop application in 1998. Actual usage of RealPlayer has also grown dramatically, with Media Metrix reporting that the number of unduplicated home users in the US climbed by more than 300% to 15.5 million in December 1998, compared to 3.5 million consumers who used the RealPlayer in December 1997.
RealNetworks continues to maintain a more than 85% share of the streaming media market. More than 85% of all Web pages on the Internet using streaming media use industry leading RealAudio(R), RealVideo(R), RealFlash(TM), RealText(TM) or RealPix(TM), and more than 300,000 hours of live RealAudio and RealVideo programming are available each week (Source: Hotbot).
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), based in Seattle, WA, is the recognized leader in the streaming media market. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. RealNetworks can be found on the World Wide Web at www.real.com.
NOTE: RealPlayer, RealSystem, SureStream, RealText, RealPix, RealProducer, RealServer, RealAudio, and RealVideo are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. RealFlash is a trademark of Macromedia, Inc. and RealNetworks, Inc. Macromedia and Flash are registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc. All other companies or products listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc.
/CONTACT: Kari Day of RealNetworks, 206-674-2358, or
public_relations@real.com/
/Company News On-Call: prnewswire.com or
fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 119814/
/Web site: real.com
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