RealNetworks(R) Introduces RealTime News Reader and Screen Saver

RealNetworks(R) Introduces RealTime News Reader and Screen Saver

Users Receive Breaking News, Finance, Entertainment, Fashion, Personal Tech or Any Other Topic of Interest Via Up-to-the-Minute Headlines and Images

SAN DIEGO, DEMOfall2006, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RealNetworks(R), Inc. (NASDAQ:RNWK), the global leader in digital media delivery, is announcing today the beta launch of RealTime, a free desktop toolbar, news reader and screen saver that brings up-to-the-minute personalized information and images to the desktop. The program integrates with users' Web browsers allowing single-click subscription to favorite stocks, weather, personalized life-style information, news feeds and blogs with information delivered right back to the desktop.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060926/SFTU028 )

The screen saver rotates through favorite headlines along with their accompanying photos or images. With one click, the user can read the story about a baseball pitcher, stock updates, information about the war in Iraq, a new salad recipe or the latest handheld device.

"We've designed an easy-to-use and visually appealing way to have personalized news and information delivered right to desktops," said Jeff Chasen, Real's vice president of media software. "With people's busy lives, many don't have time to follow the topics which interest them."

"Beta testers have told us the most fascinating aspect of RealTime is that it brings news to them as it happens," Chasen continued. "They feel well-connected without having to do any work. They've also commented that it's fun to actually see a picture of a new tech gadget rotate onto their screensaver from a site like engadget.com versus just reading about it with other RSS readers."

Real is teaming with the Associated Press, Reuters, Interactive Data, SmartMoney, Feedster and The Weather Channel Interactive to ensure RealTime users get the most current information available. RealTime provides editorial recommendations based on all of this data and allows users to personalize the product either from the RealTime Web site or as the consumer surfs the Web. When a user visits a favorite Web site, such as ESPN.com or Parenting.com, that person instantly sees whether that site has a feed. With a click of the mouse, the feed is added and the user can resume their work or playtime on the computer.

"RealTime's single click personalization and Feedster-powered dynamic feed discovery make RSS subscription easy," said Tyler Goldman, president of Feedster. "It will enable mainstream users to take advantage of the power of RSS. We're looking forward to our continued partnership with Real as RealTime begins to deliver news, feeds and blogs to the millions of people using the Web. They want personalized real-time information, but do not have the time to figure out and configure complex RSS systems."

RealTime is available in its beta form at www.realtime.com. Additional features will be added as the product heads toward its official release in early 2007. Real invites users to comment on the product at http://blog.realtime.com/ .

About RealNetworks, Inc.

RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading creator of digital media services and software including Rhapsody(TM), RealPlayer(R) 10, and casual PC and mobile games. RealNetworks has more than 2.2 million paid subscribers to its premium digital media 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' corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com/company .

NOTE: RealPlayer, Rhapsody, RealNetworks and RealTime are the trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks. All third party trademarks belong to their respective owners.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: ashley@barokas.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060926/SFTU028
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: RealNetworks, Inc.

CONTACT: Carol Rogalski of RealNetworks, +1-206-892-6780, or
crogalski@real.com; or Ashley Allman of Barokas Public Relations,
+1-206-344-3133, or ashley@barokas.com, for RealNetworks

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

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