From the Jan 17 – Jan 23, 2002 issue

News

Real Partnership

Hitachi, Moxi Digital, NEC, Philips Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics, and TiVo Adopt RealNetworks' RealOne Player for Widespread Market Deployment in Consumer Electronics Devices

by Pat Kearney

On Tuesday, January 8, RealNetworks®, Inc. announced strategic alliances with leading consumer electronics device and microprocessor providers that will enable consumers to enjoy RealAudio® and RealVideo® wherever and whenever they want. TiVo and Moxi Digital will integrate the RealOne™ Player into their set-top box platforms, and leading processor companies, including Hitachi, NEC, Philips Semiconductor, and STMicroelectronics, will optimize their platforms for the playback of RealNetworks' RealAudio and RealVideo in a wide variety of home devices including DVD players, set-top boxes, mobile phones, and portable media devices.

The combination of today's announcement and previously announced agreements with Hewlett Packard, Liberate, Nokia, Sony Computer Entertainment, Symbian, and Texas Instruments will make it possible for consumers to enjoy RealAudio and RealVideo from a wide variety of devices in the living room and mobile environment.

"Millions of consumers throughout the world have made RealPlayer®, RealAudio, and RealVideo the leading media technologies on the Internet," said Dan Sheeran, vice president, Media Systems, RealNetworks, Inc.

Things are happy with TiVo as well. "We are excited to be working with RealNetworks to offer consumers the ability to make their TiVo DVR the center of their entertainment experience in the living room," said Mike Ramsay, CEO, TiVo Inc. RealNetworks has long been the leader in digital media delivery, and now consumers can use their TiVo to manage all their music and video entertainment.

pat@thestranger.com