Progressive Networks announces RealAudio Server products for Macintosh; RealAudio Server is the only software enabling Macintosh systems to deliver audio on demand over the Internet

Business Wire, Jan 10, 1996

SAN FRANCISCO--MACWORLD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 10, 1996--Progressive Networks (PN), an interactive communications company focused on the delivery of real-time multimedia over the Internet, today at MacWorld announced that a beta version of the RealAudio(TM) Server 1.0 for Macintosh is available for testing from its home page on the Internet (http://www.RealAudio.com).

The company also announced that a beta version of the Macintosh version of RealAudio Personal Server, designed for individual users, is available for testing.

Both products will be displayed during MacWorld at booth No. 841.

RealAudio Server 1.0 for Macintosh is the only software package available for Mac OS allowing delivery of audio on demand to the Internet. The RealAudio Server is part of an audio-on-demand delivery system for the Internet which allows publishers of news, entertainment, business and educational content to deliver audio through the Internet to users of multimedia computers.

RealAudio plays instantly, without download delays, through all types of Internet connections from 14.4 Kbps modems and faster.

"The Macintosh community is very important to Progressive Networks and RealAudio," said Rob Glaser, president and CEO of Progressive Networks. "A high percentage of Macintosh systems are connected to the Internet, and we believe it is essential that we support this vital user community. More than 20 percent of RealAudio Players are running under Mac OS."

RealAudio pioneered and is the emerging standard for audio on demand on the Internet. With the introduction of RealAudio Server for Macintosh, RealAudio Server software is available for Mac OS, Windows NT(TM) and many flavors of UNIX. Any RealAudio Server 1.0 can reach all 2.5 million RealAudio Players in use today, regardless of platform.

Internet World magazine recently selected RealAudio as one of the best new Internet technologies of 1995.

"RealAudio is fast becoming the international standard for audio on demand on the Internet," said Martin Dunsmuir, general manager of server products at Progressive Networks. "The Macintosh product line offers a powerful, easy-to-use platform for serving audio on demand to the Internet."

The RealAudio Server will run on a Macintosh 68040 or Power Macintosh running System 7.5 or better with Apple Open Transport. The software will be available directly from Progressive Networks in Q1 '96.

The RealAudio Server 1.0 for Macintosh will have a suggested retail price of $995 for 10 simultaneous streams, $4,955 for 40 streams and $9,995 for 100 streams. The maximum number of simultaneous streams is a measure of the maximum number of end users who can listen to RealAudio at any one time from a particular RealAudio Server. Larger stream packages are also available.

Organizations which purchase RealAudio Server 1.0 for Macintosh will receive free upgrades to RealAudio Server 2.0 for Macintosh, which will ship in Q2 '96. RealAudio 2.0 offers significantly improved sound quality and support for live broadcasting and synchronized multimedia in addition to other innovations.

The RealAudio Personal Server for Macintosh is for individuals who wish to join the RealAudio broadcasting world. RealAudio Personal Server for Macintosh can serve up to two simultaneous audio streams from a Macintosh connected to a TCP/IP network. It will have a suggested retail price of $99 and requires a Macintosh 68040 or Power Macintosh running Mac OS 7.5.x.

About Progressive Networks

Progressive Networks, based in Seattle, develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other digital devices to send and receive audio and audio-based multimedia services using the existing infrastructure. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: RealAudio is a trademark of Progressive Networks.

Windows and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. Macintosh

is a trademark of Apple Corp.

CONTACT: Progressive Networks

Frank Vaughan, 206/447-0567, ext. 295

or

KillerApp Communications

Katie Cotton/Beth Sadler, 213/938-7600