RNWK--Thursday July 13, 8:00 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: RealNetworks, Inc.
AOL and RealNetworks Announce Strategic Agreement to Deliver Streaming Digital Media Through AOL Services
RealSystem 8 Will Enable AOL's More Than 23 Million Members to Seamlessly Enjoy Integrated Audio and Video Experiences
SEATTLE, and DULLES, Va., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK - news) and America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL - news) today announced an agreement under which AOL will deploy RealSystem® 8 throughout its network. In addition, AOL 6.0, due out later this year, will deliver a multi-platform media player using RealPlayer® streaming media technology. AOL and RealNetworks are currently working together to use RealSystem 8 in the webcast of the popular Big Brother television show.
RealNetworks' high-quality audio and video technology will enable AOL to work with its many content partners to provide both AOL members and Internet users with an enhanced and more compelling interactive narrowband and broadband experience.
``We are pleased to work with RealNetworks to deliver a seamless, high-quality streaming digital media experience to our members,'' said Barry Schuler, President, AOL Interactive Services. ``Our goal has always been to provide our members and users of our web-based brands with the best possible interactive experience, and our new agreement with RealNetworks will help us do just that.''
``With AOL's more than 23 million members and outstanding content base, working closely with AOL is a fantastic opportunity for RealNetworks,'' said Rob Glaser, founder and CEO, RealNetworks. ``Through this agreement we have not only enabled the largest single Internet population in the world to experience the compelling audio and VHS video quality of RealSystem 8, but we have also made fundamental and substantial progress towards realizing our vision of the Internet as the next mass medium.''
Under the agreement, RealPlayer will be distributed with the Netscape browser and through Netcenter. RealNetworks will distribute Spinner, the free Web radio player based on RealPlayer technology, as well as bundling software with its RealPlayer that enables users to easily sign up for the AOL service.
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc., based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in media delivery on the Internet. 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. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks consumer software on the Internet at real.com. RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located on the Internet at realnetworks.com.
About America Online, Inc.
Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: America Online, with more than 23 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.7 million members, the company's two worldwide Internet services; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; AOL Moviefone, the nation's #1 movie listing guide and ticketing service; and Spinner.com and NullSoft's Winamp, leaders in Internet music. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.
NOTE: RealNetworks, RealSystem and RealPlayer are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other companies or products listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE: RealNetworks, Inc. |
