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REALNETWORKS LAUNCHES NEW MOBILE MEDIA SOLUTIONS FOR CONTENT PROVIDERS
New versions of RealNetworks’ Helix Mobile Producer and Helix Universal Server mobile enable Content Providers to Create and Deliver Content to Growing Mobile Media Customers
Seattle, WA and London, UK February 17, 2004 — RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), today unveiled a new family of products that will enable content providers to seamlessly create and deliver RealAudio®, RealVideo®, and standards-based content, to the world’s rapidly expanding mobile subscriber base. As part of this family, RealNetworks is introducing a new version of its mobile content encoder, called Helix™ Mobile Producer Standard, powered by Envivio. The new version of the encoder has been designed, optimized and priced specifically for the content provider market. In addition, RealNetworks is offering a version of its industry leading Helix Universal Server mobile for content providers interested in delivering directly to consumers content that is optimized for mobile consumption. Using the new Helix Mobile Producer Standard and Helix Universal Server mobile, content providers can now encode popular content such as news, sports, music and entertainment for viewing by the millions of media-enabled mobile subscribers on 2.5 and 3G networks around the world.
"We are delighted that RealNetworks is providing content providers with tools to bring content services to the growing mobile consumer base. Using RealNetworks’ content creation tools, we are in a position to bring the UEFA Champions League to football fans on a global basis," said Alexandre Fourtoy, Chief Executive of UEFA New Media. "Mobilizing our football content is extremely exciting for us and will enable us to bring our fans the best club competition content available, whenever and wherever our fans want."
Helix Mobile Producer - Standard and Professional
With a growing base of consumers now carrying media-enabled mobile devices, there has been significant demand from content providers for tools to enable them to encode their content for mobile delivery and viewing. To address this need, RealNetworks has created a version of its mobile encoder specifically targeted to content providers. Helix Mobile Producer Standard enables content providers to create 3GPP and 3GPP2 compliant, as well as RealAudio and RealVideo content as part of their current digital content creation process. The new Standard version of the encoder provides high quality encoding at a price that will help content providers begin delivering content to this growing mobile market. RealNetworks will continue providing its premium encoding product, the Helix Mobile Producer Professional, for mobile operators and content providers seeking a professional-quality encoding tool with features such as SNMP support and batch encoding.
Both the Standard and Professional versions of the encoding product have been developed in partnership with Envivio, a leading provider of standards-based encoding tools. The new Helix Mobile Producer Standard is scheduled to be commercially available at the end of the first quarter 2004.
"With the introduction of Real’s new mobile solutions for content providers the long sought goal of being able to deliver multimedia content tailored for consumers’ mobile devices is now possible on a mass and affordable scale," said Ian Freed, vice president Mobile Products and Services, RealNetworks, Inc. "Working with the world’s mobile operators, handset manufacturers and premium content services companies, we are bringing compelling content services to the mobile market."
As the leader in mobile media delivery, RealNetworks has agreements with over 35 mobile operators around the globe to stream mobile video and audio services using RealNetworks’ Helix mobile platform, including an agreement with Vodafone, the world’s largest group of mobile operators with a presence in 36 countries. RealNetworks also has agreements with the world’s leading mobile handset manufacturers including Nokia and Motorola to bundle the RealPlayer® on their mobile devices. With the addition of a just announced relationship with Sony Ericsson, the RealPlayer is shipping or scheduled to ship with phones manufactured by 5 of the top 6 mobile handset manufacturers in the world. Further, RealNetworks’ RealPlayer for mobile devices is available on Linux, Openwave Phone Tools v7, PalmOS, Series 60, Symbian and WinCE.
RealNetworks’ Helix mobile platform is comprised of the following mobile products: the Helix Universal Server mobile, Helix Universal Gateway mobile, Helix Mobile Producer (Standard and Professional versions), the new Helix Service Delivery Suite, and the RealPlayer for mobile devices.
For More Information:
Lisa Strong, RealNetworks, Inc. (206) 892-6585, lstrong@real.com
Erika Shaffer, RealNetworks, 206-892-6191, eshaffer@real.com
ABOUT REALNETWORKS’ HELIX MOBILE PLATFORM
RealNetwork’ Helix mobile platform provides mobile operators, content providers and handset manufacturers the tools needed to create and launch mobile media delivery services. Based on RealNetworks’ tenth generation media server technology, the Helix mobile platform is optimized to best serve the needs of the mobile environment including, support for 3GPP, 3GPP2 and other standard formats, the ability to adapt to changes in network availability, and proven commercial interoperability. The RealPlayer mobile is available on millions of handsets worldwide and distribution continues to grow through relationships with leading handset manufacturers such as Nokia and Motorola. For more information please visit: http://www.realnetworks.com/mobile.
ABOUT REALNETWORKS
RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading creator of digital media services and software including the award-winning Rhapsody® Internet jukebox service and RealPlayer 10. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks’ consumer software at http://www.real.com. Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and enterprises use RealNetworks’ products and services to create and deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices. RealNetworks’ systems and corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com.
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