Orb Networks and Audible Join Forces to Deliver Spontaneous Mobile Access to Audiobooks, Audio Magazines & Newspapers, and Radio Programs

Orb Networks and Audible Join Forces to Deliver Spontaneous Mobile Access to Audiobooks, Audio Magazines & Newspapers, and Radio Programs

Audible's On-The-Go Listeners Now Have Capabilities to Access Their Digital Content Anywhere in the World, From Virtually Any Internet Enabled Device

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Orb Networks, Inc., a leading developer of streaming media software and services, and Audible, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBL), the leading provider of digitally delivered spoken word audio, today announced they have joined forces to bring even more flexibility to listeners of audible.com's Internet audio service. Using Orb's solution, Audible customers can spontaneously access their home PCs from virtually any device that can connect to the Internet, such as a cell phone, PDA, or notebook, allowing them to listen to their downloaded Audible content at any time, from anywhere in the world.

Audible listeners can use virtually any Internet-connected mobile device to access and listen to any audio titles that have been downloaded to a home PC among Audible's 60,000 hours of audiobooks, audio magazines & newspapers, radio programs, and original shows. Furthermore, its customers don't have to transfer their downloaded audio to a mobile device before they leave home. Orb's solution gives listeners the freedom to spontaneously access their Audible content away from home with the mobile devices they already own. The media is simply streamed securely and directly from their home PC to the device to provide fast mobile media access.

Orb's solution is the first of its kind to allow consumers spontaneous mobile access to all kinds of their digital media. Using any Web browser, Orb provides a simple, intuitive interface to the user's content located on their home PC or on the Internet. By removing the complexity and limitations of many of today's digital entertainment products and services, Orb's software architecture leverages the best features of today's popular standards while abiding by current digital rights management solutions.

"The agreement with Orb Networks gives our customers even more freedom to enjoy our service whenever and wherever they want," said Foy Sperring, senior vice president, Strategic Alliances, Audible, Inc. "It has been Audible's philosophy to continually expand the reach of our audio solutions with the most innovative services available, and this is something powerful and brand new. Orb's ability to work within our DRM framework provides secure and simple access that increases the value of our listeners' purchases."

"This is an exciting time for consumers who want to take full advantage of their mobile devices along with the digital content they own at home," said James Behrens, CEO, Orb Networks. "There has always been that promise of streaming all your digital home media to a cell phone or PDA and the time has come to deliver on that promise. We're excited to bring this breakthrough technology to Audible's customers. They now have the ability to take their Audible content and spontaneously access it from an airport or a Wi-Fi cafe. The possibilities are endless."

In a separate press release issued yesterday, Orb Networks introduced Orb Media 1.0 at the 2005 International CES tradeshow. Orb's first product introduction marks a breakthrough in streaming digital media services. Using any Web browser, Orb provides a simple, intuitive interface to the user's content located on their home PC or on the Internet allowing users to create their own "personal media portal." Users can now see their home videos, listen to their favorite songs, or watch live TV on virtually any of their Internet-connected devices. By removing the complexity and limitations of many of today's digital entertainment products and services, Orb's software architecture leverages the best features of today's popular standards while abiding by current digital rights management solutions.

About Audible, Inc.

Audible(R) (www.audible.com) is the Internet's leading premium spoken audio source. Content from Audible is downloaded and played back on personal computers, CDs, or AudibleReady(R) computer-based mobile devices. Audible has over 60,000 hours of audio programs from more than 180 content partners that include leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers, and business information providers. Audible.com is Amazon.com's and the Apple iTunes Music Store's preeminent provider of spoken word products for downloading or streaming via the Web. Additionally, the Company is strategically aligned with Random House, Inc. in the first-ever imprint to produce spoken word content specifically suited for digital distribution, Random House Audible. Among the Company's key business relationships are Apple Corp., Bertelsmann AG, Creative Labs, Holtzbrinck NetworXs, Hewlett-Packard Company, Microsoft Corporation, palmOne, Inc., PhatNoise Inc., RealNetworks, Inc., Rio Audio, Roxio, Inc., Sony Electronics, Tapwave, Inc., Texas Instruments Inc., and VoiceAge Corporation.

About Orb Networks, Inc.

Orb Networks delivers powerful mobile services for the fast growing wireless industry. Orb Networks is the first developer of streaming media software and services giving people spontaneous access to digital home media -- any kind, at any time, from any location in the world. The groundbreaking Orb Architecture allows users to access music, live television, videos, photos and other digital content from any device that can connect to the Internet, such as a cell phone, PDA, or notebook. Orb Networks develops, licenses and markets its services in partnership with leading content providers/creators, wireless carriers, electronic distributors and consumer electronic companies. As an active participant in the issues affecting digital media, Orb Networks is a member of both the Digital Media Association (DiMA) and the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). Orb Networks is a privately held company located in Union City, Calif. For more information about Orb Networks, please visit http://www.orb.com/ .

NOTE: Orb and the Orb logo are trademarks of Orb Networks, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Audible and www.audible.com are registered trademarks of Audible, Inc. and all are part of the family of Audible, Inc. trademarks.

This press release contains information about Audible, Inc. that is not historical fact and may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements about the company. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, Audible's limited operating history, history of losses, uncertain market for its services, and its inability to license or produce compelling audio content and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.


Source: Orb Networks, Inc.

CONTACT: Jeff Urquhart of Voce Communications, Inc., +1-650-228-5181, or
jurquhart@vocecomm.com, for Orb Networks, Inc.; or Jonathan Korzen of Audible,
Inc., +1-973-698-8045, or jkorzen@audible.com

Web site: http://www.audible.com/

Web site: http://www.orb.com/


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