RealNetworks Provides Mobile Operators With Interactive Video for Their Subscribers With the Introduction of Interactive Multimedia Experience

RealNetworks Provides Mobile Operators With Interactive Video for Their Subscribers With the Introduction of Interactive Multimedia Experience

Innovative solution utilizes an operator's 3G network and video-telephony capable handsets to offer a visual, interactive 'infotainment' experience for subscribers

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today from CTIA Wireless I.T. and Entertainment 2008, RealNetworks(R), Inc. (RNWK) the digital entertainment services company, announced the upcoming global availability of Interactive Multimedia Experience (IME), adding video dimension to Interactive Voice Response (IVR). Utilizing an operator's 3G network and video-telephony capable handsets, IME combines the reliable simplicity of a voice call with the vibrant, rich experience of multimedia, providing subscribers with a dynamically-generated, visual interface for finding information, content and entertainment using video call minutes on a per-minute basis rather than using data minutes.

Once IME is deployed in an operator's network, a subscriber with a video-calling plan would simply dial a phone number (like 411) and be presented with a menu of dynamic visual options, like movie trailers & times, traffic, music, shopping and more. Further, because the interaction takes place via a video call session, it is charged at per-minute fee, vs. eating into a subscriber's data allowance. Subscribers elect video-calling plans, an extension of the voice and data minute plans widely used, when a video-telephony capable phone is purchased.

"Working with mobile operators and their partners, RealNetworks looks forward to providing subscribers with an easy-to-use, visually rich method of accessing information and entertainment on their mobile phones," said Vern Poyner, senior vice president, TPS Americas and Global Operations for RealNetworks. "Everyone knows how to make a phone call, and by offering this new feature via video telephony, we believe it will help operators see a return on the significant investments they've made in deploying 3G networks."

IME will be available for deployment to Mobile Operators globally in Q209, enabling them to create compelling new services for subscribers, attract partners who want new ways to reach consumers, and increase the ROI on their 3G networks.

Real's services are currently available through 88 different carriers in 44 countries worldwide, making them available to 884.3 million subscribers. Real offers wireless providers a comprehensive selection of mobile services including Music-On-Demand, Video-On-Demand, mobile games, personalization features such as RTs, RBTs and Multimedia Ringback Services, and messaging services.

ABOUT REALNETWORKS

RealNetworks, Inc. delivers digital entertainment services to consumers via PC, portable music player, home entertainment system or mobile phone. Real created the streaming media category in 1995 and has continued to lead the market with pioneering products and services, including: RealPlayer(R), the first mainstream media player to enable one-click downloading and recording of Internet video; the award-winning Rhapsody(R) digital music service, which delivers more than 1 billion songs per year; RealArcade(R), one of the largest casual games destinations on the Web; and a variety of mobile entertainment services, such as ringback tones, offered to consumers through leading wireless carriers around the world. RealNetworks' corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com/company.

RealNetworks, RealArcade, Rhapsody, RealPlayer and the Real logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, names of actual companies and products mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Source: RealNetworks, Inc.

CONTACT: Jennifer Humiston of SHIFT Communications, +1-617-779-1812,
jhumiston@shiftcomm.com, for RealNetworks, Inc.; or Tiffany Dunning of
RealNetworks, +1-206-892-6733, tdunning@real.com

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

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