CeBIT, Hanover, GERMANY, March 12, 2002 - Nokia (NYSE: NOK), the world leader in mobile communications, and RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the global leader in Internet media delivery, today announced a long-term alliance to integrate RealNetworks' digital media technology on Nokia's mobile devices and mobile operator network solutions. Working with their mobile carrier and media company partners, RealNetworks and Nokia will enable millions of mobile consumers worldwide to enjoy live and on-demand access to digital audio and video for information and entertainment.
Under the alliance, Nokia will include the mobile version of the RealOneTM Player as a standard feature on all its mobile devices that use the Symbian operating system, which is Nokia's operating system for 2.5G and 3G mobile devices. The RealOne Player, with support for 3GPP media formats, RealAudio®, and RealVideo®, will be included as a standard feature on the Nokia Series 60 Platform, the best-of-breed mobile device software platform available for license to other mobile device manufacturers. Nokia Networks will provide integrated media solutions to mobile operators as an authorized reseller of RealSystem® Mobile, RealNetworks' standards-based media delivery platform.
"Today's announcement is a significant landmark for the mobile industry," said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Nokia. "It is a continuation of our fruitful relationship with RealNetworks that has already brought audio and video to the Nokia 9210 Communicator. As the mobile industry standardizes around open mobile architectures, RealNetworks' strength providing consumers with great audio and video experiences make them a natural partner for Nokia. We are confident that our joint efforts with RealNetworks will enrich the mobile consumer's experience while offering revenue generating services for our mobile operator customers."
"We believe the industry will look back on this announcement as a major milestone in the development of digital media services for mobile consumers," said Rob Glaser, CEO and Chairman, RealNetworks, Inc. "Our two companies will accelerate deployment of mobile media services by offering field-proven, standards-based technology as well as total business solutions to mobile operators and content owners. By extending the reach of the RealOne Player into the market-leading Nokia mobile phones, we are enabling consumers to enjoy digital media wherever and whenever they want, and content owners to gain access to new distribution opportunities."
The companies have agreed to a joint technology and business roadmap to enable enhanced media experiences for consumers and scalable business solutions for mobile operators.
This includes:
· Working together to enable consumers to quickly and easily transfer audio and video from the RealOne Player on their PC to their Nokia mobile devices;
· Addressing digital rights management issues jointly, and
· Ensuring robust 3GPP capabilities and compliance in mobile device and network products.
The alliance brings together the leader in mobile communications with the leader in Internet media delivery. Nokia is the number one manufacturer of mobile devices with the installed base of its mobile phones exceeding 440 million, and Nokia Networks is a leading supplier of 2G and 3G mobile networks. RealNetworks is the leading provider of digital media technology for the Internet, with more than 250 million registered users of its media player products including its new RealOne Player. RealNetworks' systems products are used by major content owners, broadcasters and distributors throughout the world to create, deliver, and protect digital media.
Availability
RealSystem Mobile, RealNetworks' complete end-to-end software solution for mobile operators, was announced last month at 3GSM World Congress and is now available. Nokia is offering RealSystem Mobile as part of a comprehensive infrastructure solution to operators in the second quarter, 2002.
The mobile version of the RealOne Player will be included with the Nokia 9210i Communicator, which Nokia plans to make available in Europe, Asia, and Africa in the second quarter of 2002, and the Nokia 9290 Communicator, scheduled to be available for the Americas in the second quarter of 2002. It will also be available for the Nokia 7650 later this year.
A demonstration of the RealOne Player on Nokia handsets will be showcased at CeBIT in the Nokia Stand (hall 26, stand E68).
Note: The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is an organization formed by recognized standards bodies for the production of globally applicable technical specifications for third generation (3G) mobile systems.
About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc., based in Seattle, is the global leader in Internet media delivery. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software on the Internet at http://www.real.com. RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located on the Internet at http://www.realnetworks.com.
Further Information, Press Only:
Martine Charles, RealNetworks, +1 206-674-2304, mcharles@real.com, United States
Christian Hamilton, RealNetworks, +44 787 944 3088, chamilton@real.com, Germany
Nokia Mobile Phones, Communications, +3587180 08000, nokia.mobile.phones@nokia.com
Virve Virtanen, Nokia Americas, +1 972-894-4705, communication.corp@nokia.com
RealNetworks, RealSystem, RealAudio, RealVideo, and RealOne are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted include risks associated with Nokia's and RealNetworks' ability to develop and market new mobile technologies and services; risks associated with the ability of Nokia and RealNetworks to complete the technical integration of RealNetworks' technologies with Nokia's technologies; risks associated with the sustained adoption and use of Nokia's and RealNetworks' services and technologies by customers, including the uncertainty of whether consumers will pay for subscription content over mobile networks, which is a relatively new and unproven business model; factors impacting Nokia's and RealNetworks' partners' businesses that may impact the timing of such partners' adoption of or use of Nokia's and RealNetworks' technologies; and competitive risks, including competing technologies, products and services. More information about potential risk factors that could affect RealNetworks' business and financial results is included in RealNetworks' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, and from time to time in other reports filed by RealNetworks with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Nokia and RealNetworks Announce Comprehensive Alliance to Bring Audio and Video to Mobile Users Worldwide
| Source: Nokia Oyj