RealNetworks Teams With Sony for New Audio

S E A T T L E, Oct. 23, 2000 -- RealNetworks Inc. has teamed with Tokyo-basedSony Corp. to introduce a new version of its RealAudio technology,which allows sound to be broadcast via the Internet.

RealAudio 8, due out today, uses a mathematical formula, calleda codec, created by Sony to turn sounds into data. That data isthen sent a bit at a time over the Internet and reassembled byRealNetworks’ software on personal computers.

According to RealNetworks product manager Rob Grady, the newtechnology reduces the size of an audio file by a third. This isthe first time RealNetworks’ co-developed its codecs with anothercompany.

RealAudio 8 also provides a discernible difference in musicalquality than its predecessors and competitors, doing a better jobin fleshing out the high-end treble and low bass, Grady said.

The new technology will also help Seattle-based RealNetworksbreak into the market for digitally stored music. While mostdigital music files are stored in the MP3 format, which is commonlyaccepted on most portable music devices, Sony’s digital recorderswill be able to store and replay RealAudio files now, Grady said.

Though the format will be made available today, filescreated with older RealAudio technology will need to be re-recordedto take advantage of the new format.