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Technology Stocks : RealNetworks (NASDAQ:RNWK) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scott C. Lemon who wrote (4721)	12/25/1999 9:05:00 PM
From: Pruguy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5843

It's too bad they were too cocky to deal with Novell when they should have ... the tides are turning, and Novell is well on their way to demonstrating what real infrastructure is all about. Although they spent years trying to partner with Real, all they got were "stiff arms" ... so Novell went to Apple and QuickTime ... Scott, You aren't suggesting that either Novell or Real have played all their cards..therefor whose to say they won't expand their existing relationship....Your comment sounds as if there isn't any relationship, yet there is and from both Novell and Real, it is a good and solid one

To: Scott C. Lemon who wrote (4721)	12/27/1999 7:36:00 AM
From: Goodboy	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 5843

They have a product that allows a customer to send out one stream from a GMV server that can play on Real, Media Player or Quicktime. It uses emulation rather than outright hacking the code of the other players. Quicktime is open source, thus this software would be a boon for them as delivering to Quicktime players would not add an extra cost to the webcaster. It is bad for Real in that they get a per stream or flat fee for their server that makes up 50% of their revs. Products like Streambox and now GMV are the beginning of the end for this type of closed model. Broadcast.com is only the first company to attempt to put pressure on Real to either lower their fees sharply or risk losing them as a platform partner. The whole content site thing is not helping matters. Real can't have both and at the same time. This is not a battle of survival It is rather a battle for survival of their current biz model. If Real is even to start a trasition toward lower fees or open source, many analysts on the street would be hard pressed not to downgrade the stock as this elimination of fees would benefit the webcasters and content sites, but would hurt Real. With 80 million players, there are few sites that don't support the format. I appreciate your comments and feedback. This will be an interesting story. I don't think it will have a picture perfect ending for stockholders, but how Real handles the coming challanges will be key. I think holders will remain nervous as to who will fire the next shot and when. Thanks