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RealNetworks and Linksys Make Beautiful Music Beyond the Desktop
Leaders in Broadband Home Networking and
Premium Online Music Services Help Make the Digital Living
Room a Reality for Consumers.
SEATTLE and IRVINE, Calif. – May 19, 2004
– RealNetworks ®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the leading creator
of digital media services and software, and Linksys ®, a division
of Cisco Systems Inc., the leading provider of broadband,
wireless and networking hardware for the consumer and Small
Office/Home Office (SOHO) markets, today announced that the
companies are working together to make it easy for consumers
to access and enjoy online music on their high-fidelity home
stereo systems by making Linksys' market-leading devices and
RealNetworks' award-winning Rhapsody ® Internet jukebox service
work together seamlessly.
"Linksys is a powerful partner whose
innovative product designs, marketing expertise, and extensive
retail presence has helped take home networking into the mainstream,"
said Sean Ryan, vice president of music services, RealNetworks.
"We believe that Linksys will also play a major role in the
emerging digital media device market, and we're truly excited
to be working together. Combining our Rhapsody service and
Linksys' easy to use device makes the celestial jukebox a
reality."
Today, Linksys announced shipment of its
first Rhapsody-interoperable device, the Linksys Wireless-B
Media Link for Music, a new home audio component that uses
Wireless-B (802.11b) networking to send digital audio content
stored on a PC or other storage devices to a home stereo.
Using the Wireless-B Media Link for Music, Rhapsody subscribers
can browse their library by artist, album, or song title,
and access the custom radio stations and playlists they have
created using Rhapsody.
"As broadband usage continues to grow, our
products are playing a critical role in extending digital
entertainment beyond the PC desktop," said Steve Troyer, director
product marketing, Linksys. "Working with Real aligns us with
a leader in the online music market and reinforces our devices'
role as a centerpiece of the digital home."
About RealNetworks, Inc. 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.
About Linksys Founded in 1988, Linksys,
a division of Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the global
leader in Wireless and Ethernet networking for consumer and
SOHO users. Linksys is dedicated to making networking easy
and affordable for its customers, offering innovative, award-winning
products that seamlessly integrate with a variety of devices
and applications. Linksys provides 24/7 Grade "A" product
support to all its customers. For more information, visit
the Linksys web site at www.linksys.com.
# # #
RealNetworks and Rhapsody
are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark
of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and
certain other countries. Copyright © 2004 Cisco Systems, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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