RealPlayer allows you to play real-time (streaming) audio, video and multimedia.

StartCenter
RealPlayer includes a feature called StartCenter that, by default, runs in the Windows system tray when RealPlayer is not actively running. StartCenter is used to help improve startup time and to manage several automatic Internet communications, including software update requests, (AutoUpdate) Channel and Real.com Message Service checks. If you have security software, it may alert you to these communications. These communications do not indicate a security risk. If you wish to disable the StartCenter feature, you may do so in Preferences, however you will not be able to receive automatic notifications when new software or media content is available.

Electronic Registration
During electronic registration, you can optionally send information about your location, e-mail address and connection speed. This information is sent with relevant system and player version information. The e-mail address is used in the event that you elect to receive updates and special offers via e-mail from RealNetworks. All other information is used for aggregate statistical analysis and to provide content that may be of interest to you. You are not required to fill out an electronic registration; choose "Remind me later" during registration. A registration reminder will appear three times, after which you may choose to permanently disable registration reminders.

Channel Checks
RealPlayer periodically checks to see if there are new Channels and Channel headlines available for your player. At this time, RealPlayer sends the Channel servers information about your player version, connection speed (for example, so we can offer broadband users high-bandwidth content), country and Zip Code so that we can offer local content, and your language preference. For Channel updates or when you add or remove channels, we need to send data on the Channels you have installed. Your lists of Channels are not associated with you personally. The Channel updating feature can be disabled by selecting View Menu…Preferences…Content…Channels and Live Stations…Settings.

Real.com Message Service
If you have signed up for the Real.com Message Service (News and Entertainment Flashes and Real.com Product Flashes), RealPlayer periodically checks to see if there are any new messages. During this check and when you choose to personalize your messages, RealPlayer sends information on the message categories that you have signed up to receive along with information about messages you have already viewed to ensure that only new messages are sent. We also send your country, preferred language and relevant system information in order to send appropriate messages. The messages to which you have subscribed cannot be associated with you individually. The Real.com Message Service can be disabled in Preferences.

Finding New Content: Search, Radio Tuner, Message Personalization, and Add/Remove Channels
RealPlayer Search, Radio Tuner, Message Personalization, and Add/Remove Channel pages display a Web page when you select these features (Note: if Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4 or later is on your computer, these pages are displayed within RealPlayer). When these Web pages are displayed, RealPlayer sends relevant system and geographic information to display the correct page. RealNetworks may use browser cookies when these pages are displayed in order to store your settings and for aggregate statistical analysis. Unless you have previously consented to enable RealNetworks to store your name or e-mail in a cookie (for example, if you establish a My Guide account), RealNetworks cannot associate your personal information with your use of this feature. You may disable browser cookies. However, this will disable Radio Tuner presets and some other customization settings.

Technical Support
If an error occurs when you are using RealPlayer, a dialog box will appear describing the error. When you select the "More Info" button on the dialog box to obtain more information about the problem, RealPlayer sends relevant system configuration information to help RealNetworks technical support diagnose and resolve the problem. This feature can be disabled by selecting View menu…Preferences…Support…Send Support Info.

Software Update
RealPlayer is designed to check for the availability of software updates to ensure that you have the latest product improvements. When RealPlayer checks for the availability of a software update, basic information about the product version and installed components along with geographic information, are sent to RealNetworks to determine whether new free software is available for download. For RealPlayer Plus, the software's serial number is also sent during software update. The serial number is used to determine whether the user has an active subscription for updates, and whether the software is an authorized copy. We do not use the serial number to personally identify our customers. This feature can be disabled for 30-day intervals by selecting View menu…Preferences…Upgrade…Turn off notification for 30 days.

RealPlayer 8 Communications with Streaming Media Servers
RealPlayer must communicate with streaming media servers in order to receive the content sent from the servers. Those servers are typically owned and operated by third-party content providers, but these servers might also reside at RealNetworks if we are providing hosting services for a content provider, or are providing content ourselves. This section describes the information transmitted in those communications.

Playing Content
Whenever you play a streaming media clip, RealPlayer must send information to content broadcasters so that they can send the clip data stream to your computer. This data includes your connection speed, player version, language preference, Zip Code and country. This communication cannot be disabled; however, you may opt to not identify your Zip Code during electronic registration, or if you have already submitted your Zip Code, you can re-register the product from the Help menu and omit this field to delete it from your product and RealNetworks records.

Zip Code Information
Upon product registration, we may ask users to supply us with the Zip Code where their RealPlayer is used. The Zip Code is used by RealNetworks to improve traffic routing and reduce network congestion by finding servers that are located closer to your Zip Code address. RealNetworks may also use the Zip Code to offer content and instructions that are most appropriate for your language and region.

For more information about enabling or disabling GUIDs with streaming media servers, please go to http://www.real.com/products/player/g2/rsdata.html#guid

Connection Quality Information
By default, RealPlayer sends anonymous connection quality data to broadcast servers to indicate the quality and bandwidth of the stream that you received while playing a clip. This helps the content provider understand the quality of the streaming media service that they are providing to you. This feature can be disabled by selecting View menu…Preferences…Support…Send connection-quality data to RealServers.

You may disable RealPlayer 8 cookies by selecting View menu…Preferences…Support…Enable Cookies.

REALONE SUPERPASS

Member Verification
As a RealOne SuperPass Member, you enjoy an exclusive combination of premier audio and video content, software, and services. Because these benefits are available only to active members, we need to personally identify you with your member ID whenever you attempt to play or download RealOne SuperPass content or software in order to verify that you have rights to access these exclusive benefits. We keep a record in your member account of any Real software that you download or RealOne SuperPass services for which you sign up so that we can provide you customer service and technical support and in order to prevent fraud. However, we do not store information about the RealOne SuperPass content you play with your personal account information.

How Does RealOne SuperPass Member Verification Work?
By default, RealNetworks places a cookie on your computer when you first log in to access RealOne SuperPass content, software, or services. This optional cookie contains a member identification number that allows us to recognize you when you attempt to access RealOne SuperPass benefits so that you don't need to enter your e-mail name and password each time. This cookie is placed in your Web browser (so that you can access RealOne SuperPass Web pages) and in your RealPlayer (so that you can play RealOne SuperPass streaming audio and video). This cookie is only transmitted to RealNetworks, and the contents are never shared with outside companies.

Opting Out of RealOne SuperPass Cookies
You may elect not to have your user ID stored in a Web browser or RealPlayer cookie by adjusting your security settings in your browser. However, by doing so you will be required to re-enter your e-mail address and password each time that you would like to access RealOne SuperPass exclusive content, software, or services.