Tuesday, 19 September 2006

Real Ends Partnership with Microsoft, Enters New Agreement with SanDisk

RealNetworks has announced the launch of Rhapsody DNA, a new technology platform that enables device makers to deliver a seamless Rhapsody experience to consumers via a broad range of portable, mobile, and in-home devices. In conjunction, Real announced that it is teaming with SanDisk Corporation to integrate Rhapsody DNA into Sansa MP3 players this fall in the United States.

The RealNetworks/SanDisk partnership will include new features embedded in a line of SanDisk's Sansa e200 series of portable players. The collaboration aims to personalise the consumers device and take full advantage of both Rhapsody's access model and SanDisk's flash-based MP3 player capabilities and capacity.

The e200s with the Rhapsody DNA platform will come equipped with nearly 32 hours of pre-loaded music from artists on EMI Recorded Music, SONYBMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group, as well as independent labels. The players also include capabilities, such as automatically updating with new music based on a consumer's personal tastes and historical music preferences.

"We're excited to be working with Real to be the first to offer the Rhapsody DNA on our feature-rich, high-capacity Sansa players with the acclaimed Rhapsody service," said Eli Harari, president and chief executive officer, SanDisk. "This partnership with Real demonstrates SanDisk's commitment to bring consumers an array of options on how they receive and enjoy their music."

The Sansa e200 MP3 player line includes the 8GB Sansa e280 that includes the ability to add 2GB of additional music via a microSD card. With a total of ten GB of memory, the e280 is one of the flash-based MP3 players. Also available in two, four and six GB capacity, the e200 includes audio, photo viewing and video clip playback capabilities; digital FM tuner; on-the-fly FM recording; voice recording with a built-in microphone, and a user replaceable and rechargeable Lithium Ion battery for up to 20 hours of battery life.

In addition to SanDisk, Real is currently working with several other device manufacturers to integrate support for the Rhapsody DNA platform. One of these partners is Sonos, which last week released Sonos System Software 2.0, a software update to its digital music system whose direct-to-service architecture incorporates the Rhapsody DNA platform and was made possible through close technical collaboration between Real and Sonos.