Liquid Audio and TI Team to Spur New Portable Music Devices
Companies to Develop Design to Securely Download Music From the Internet
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Liquid Audio, Inc., the leading developer of online distribution systems, and Texas Instruments (TI), (NYSE: TXN - news) the world's leader in digital processing and analog solutions, today announced the development of a reference design for a new generation of portable audio products. Together, TI and Liquid Audio are providing hardware and software solutions that enable consumer electronics companies to incorporate important music copyright protection into their devices.
TI will deliver a hardware design using the industry-leading programmable TMS320C5000 DSP (digital signal processor), which licensees can use to build compatible new portable music devices. Liquid Audio will provide licensees with a software solution that employs critical copyright protection safeguards, including encryption, license management and advanced watermarking technology. As a result, manufacturers adopting the reference design will be able to develop and distribute next-generation portable audio devices beginning in the third quarter of 1999.
''Liquid Audio and Texas Instruments are developing a hardware reference design that meets the needs of both the consumer electronics and recording industries, while providing a superior online experience for music fans,'' said Robert Flynn, vice president of business development at Liquid Audio. ''By making our collective hardware and software technology available to device companies, we are leading the way for a whole new generation of digital music products.''
''This is a win-win situation for TI, Liquid Audio, portable audio product manufacturers and consumers,'' said Gary Johnson, TI's Worldwide DSP Audio Manager. ''This is a major step in TI's strategy to provide DSPs for emerging markets such as the music industry. We are pleased to be part of this exciting new technology development to provide the best devices to our customers, who in turn are creating some incredible new consumer products.''
The next generation of portable music devices will provide important copyright protection for artists and other content owners while continuing to provide consumers with the freedom to download music from the Internet and take it with them wherever they go. By extending copyright protection into portable devices, Liquid Audio is paving the way for content owners, such as Emmy Lou Harris and Bruce Hornsby, who have already used the Liquid Audio(TM) Liquid Music(TM) System, to reach a broader audience while protecting their rights. The new design will also enable consumers to organize and store their digital music electronically, much like a personal jukebox.
Currently, music fans may select from more than 100,000 songs in Liquid Audio format from top artists such as the Dave Matthews Band, Hole, Beck, Marilyn Manson, Creed, Natalie Imbruglia, Sarah McLachlan, Brian Setzer, Bruce Hornsby, Primus, Brian Wilson, Candyskins, Emmy Lou Harris, Jesus and Mary Chain, and Roger Taylor. Songs are now available for preview, purchase and download at several music and retail sites, including www.amplified.com; www.ktel.com; www.musicmaker.com; www.musicblvd.com; www.nordicentertainment.com; www.platinum.com; www.qradio.net; and www.ubl.com.
Today's announcement is part of Liquid Audio's ongoing strategy to support the preview, purchase, download and portability of copyright-protected music over the Internet. This includes support for digital Internet downloads, portable devices, recordable compact discs and other digital media. The joint development effort with TI is designed to be compatible with a broad range of current digital music formats and future file format standards, such as the recently announced Recording Industry of America (RIAA)-led SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative). Liquid Audio and TI are among a dozen leading participants of the SDMI coalition that will develop industry standards for the secure digital distribution of music over the Internet.
Liquid Audio, www.liquidaudio.com, is the first Internet company focusing exclusively on the needs of the music industry, providing labels, artists and production facilities with software tools and distribution services to enable the secure online distribution of professional-quality audio. Liquid Audio's technology allows consumers to preview and purchase CD-quality music over the Internet, while ensuring copyright protection and tracking royalties. Formed by veterans of the music industry and professional recording engineers, Liquid Audio is leading the convergence of music and technology to establish the Internet as a new medium for music publishing.
The worldwide leader and pioneer in digital signal processing solutions since 1982, Texas Instruments provides innovative DSP and mixed signal/analog technologies to more than 30,000 customers in the computer, wireless communications, networking, Internet, consumer, digital motor control and mass storage markets worldwide. To help customers get to market faster, TI offers easy-to-use development tools and extensive software and hardware support, enhanced by its extensive network of third party DSP solutions providers that produce more than 1,000 products using TI technology.
Texas Instruments Incorporated is a global semiconductor company and the world's leading designer and supplier of digital signal processing solutions, the engines driving the digitization of electronics. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company's businesses also include materials and controls, educational and productivity solutions, and digital imaging. The company has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at ti.com.
NOTE: Liquid Audio, Inc., Liquid Audio, the Liquid Audio logo, Liquifier, Liquid Music and Liquid Operations Center are trademarks of Liquid Audio, Inc. For more information about Liquid Audio products and services call 888-liquid-0 or visit liquidaudio.com.
SOURCE: Liquid Audio, Inc.
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