Wed, 09/09/2009

2009 Press Releases

Rhapsody Now Available for Apple iPhone and iPod Touch

  • Rhapsody App Provides Instant Access To More Than 8 Million Streaming Songs

  • All iPhone and iPod Touch Owners Can Try New Rhapsody App Free For 7 Days


SEATTLE — September 10, 2009 — Rhapsody® today announced the approval and availability of the Rhapsody application in the Apple App Store, putting more than eight million tracks at the fingertips of iPhone and iPod Touch customers. The Rhapsody application is a free download from the App Store, allowing users to instantly find and play a favorite track, create a custom playlist or listen to a favorite Rhapsody Radio station all while on the go. Consumers without a Rhapsody-To-Go subscription have the opportunity to try the service on their iPhone or iPod Touch for seven days.

"We're thrilled to be the first on-demand streaming music application available through the Apple App Store here in the United States," said Mike Lunsford, executive vice president of strategic ventures for RealNetworks. "The mobile space represents a huge opportunity to deliver unlimited access to music on the devices consumers carry with them most. We're off to a great start with the iPhone and look forward to bringing Rhapsody to more platforms later this year."

The Rhapsody application for iPhone and iPod Touch was submitted to Apple for approval less than a month ago. Lunsford added, "We found Apple's approval process to be smooth and collaborative, and we are very pleased to see our Rhapsody application available in the Apple App Store."

"Delivering subscription music services like Rhapsody to connected devices that consumers already own is critical to help drive broad adoption for the subscription business model," said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of Strategy and Analysis at Interpret llc, a market research firm based in Los Angeles and New York. "The popularity and dominance of the iPhone/iPod Touch Platform and Apple's App Store provide an ideal opportunity to introduce and educate a new group of consumers about the value of the subscription model."

About the Rhapsody Application

The Rhapsody application gives iPhone and iPod Touch owners access to more than eight million tracks immediately whenever they connect over a 3G, Edge or WiFi network. Finding a favorite artist, album or track is easy thanks to the touchscreen keyboard, allowing users to quickly find the music they want to enjoy. While on the go, users can create playlists, add new tracks to their music library, and even purchase MP3s directly from their device.

Existing Rhapsody users have full access to their entire music library, playlists and favorite channels, as well as up-to-date new releases and charts, just as they would on Rhapsody.com or through a connected home audio device. For a more casual listening and music discovery experience, users can select from hundreds of professionally-programmed Rhapsody Radio stations.

Rhapsody for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch is a free download from the Apple App Store, available from the PC at http://www.rhapsody.com/iphone and also over the air from your Apple device. A monthly $14.99 Rhapsody-To-Go subscription is required to access Rhapsody on the iPhone and iPod Touch beyond the 7-day trial period.

For More Information:
Ryan Luckin
206.661.5306
rluckin@real.com
Twitter - @RhapsodyPR

ABOUT RHAPSODY

Rhapsody® is an integrated and immersive digital music experience accessible to consumers via their computer, portable music device and their Verizon Wireless mobile phone. Rhapsody is the exclusive digital music service for RealNetworks®, Inc. and for MTV Networks' music and pop-culture brands in the United States. Rhapsody is a service of Rhapsody America LLC, a joint venture between and MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) and RealNetworks (Nasdaq RNWK). Rhapsody and the Rhapsody logo are registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc.