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Philips Announces New Flash Memory Portable Music Device, Featuring RealNetworks' RealJukebox

The Philips solid state device is able to store and play digital music files in the popular MP3 music compression format. Combined with RealNetworks' leading RealJukebox music management system, Philips' portable audio device will bring digital music to the next dimension.

``Consumers expect Philips to make technology easy-to-use and convenient,'' said Guy Demuynck, President of the Audio Business Group at Philips. ``We expect that our first personal digital audio player based on flash memory device, fully integrated into RealNetworks industry-leading RealJukebox digital music system, will revolutionize the way people enjoy music.''

``We are extremely pleased to team with Philips to bring consumers a great music experience,'' said Alex Alben, vice president, Music Group, RealNetworks, Inc. ``By allowing RealJukebox users to seamlessly transfer their songs and music playlists to the Philips audio device, consumers can easily enjoy music from the Web or their personal CD collections while on the go.''

Delivering digital-quality music from a palm-sized electronic device that reads data from a flash memory card, the new Philips device plays compressed music files organized by your home computer.

Philips is a participant in the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI). ``Our product will be compliant with the presently announced SDMI proposal. We are pleased that the fast-track phase 1 SDMI proposal now allows us to finalize our product introduction plans. We want to offer solid state products that ensure that all MP3 files -- future and existing -- can be downloaded on our players,'' said Demuynck.

The Philips device comes equipped with enough capacity on a removable flash memory card to play about one hour of digital-quality music. The device has no moving parts: which means no skipping, even during sports activities like skateboarding, aerobics, bicycling, and jogging. The player will begin shipping in the first quarter of 2000.

About RealJukebox

RealJukebox, the most popular digital music system available, enables consumers to easily acquire, play and manage their personal music collections. RealJukebox turns PCs into the best way to experience music by allowing consumers to listen to their favorite music at their convenience, record CD collections to PC hard drives, find and download music from the Internet, organize and personalize music collections, and take their music anywhere they wish through the use of portable devices. RealJukebox and RealJukebox Plus are available now for download from www.realjukebox.com.

About RealJukebox Plus

RealJukebox Plus is the $29.99 enhanced version of RealJukebox and the only complete digital music system with the ability to record and playback at CD quality -- up to 320 kbps, a 10-band graphic equalizer, and powerful new music management capabilities among its many features. RealJukebox Plus is immediately available for purchase at www.realjukebox.com.

About Philips

Philips' business group Audio is a leading supplier of portable audio products. The company has invented the music cassette and co-invented the Compact Disc system. Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of US$ 33.9 billion in 1998. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, color picture tubes for televisions and monitors, and one-chip TV products. Its 227,600 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, medical systems, business electronics and IT services (Origin). Philips is quoted on the NYSE, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.news.philips.com.

About RealNetworks

RealNetworks, Inc., based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in streaming media delivery for the Internet. 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. RealNetworks can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.real.com.

NOTE: RealNetworks, RealJukebox, and RealJukebox Plus are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other companies or products listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: RealNetworks, Inc.