Audible Inc. to Support Microsoft's Windows Media Technologies 4.0; Premium Spoken-Word Audio to be Available for Secure Download via Windows Media Player

Business Wire, April 14, 1999

WAYNE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 1999--

Audible Inc., the leader in secure delivery of spoken audio via the Internet, today announced that it intends to support Microsoft's Windows Media Technologies 4.0 release and related products. Later this year, Audible's online collection of more than 16,000 hours of audiobooks, audio newspapers and magazines, lectures, business and investing news and analysis, all available on the Internet at www.audible.com, will be accessible to Microsoft's new Windows Media Player. This initiative will enable a greater number of Internet users to access and enjoy Audible's wide range of audio for PC-based listening, while retaining Audible's commitment to its more than 95 content partners to securely deliver the best premium audio via the web for mobile playback.

Audible Inc. has been distributing copyright-secure spoken audio online since the launch of its Web site in November 1997. It regards the Windows Media Technologies 4.0 initiative as a significant development in enabling the wide deployment of a digital rights management solution for delivering protected audio over the Internet. Audible intends to utilize the advanced digital audio compression technologies in Windows Media to improve the end-user listening experience.

"As the leader in online distribution of premium spoken audio content, we are particularly pleased with Microsoft's respect for copyright protection as embodied in its digital rights management solution," said Andy Huffman, president and CEO of Audible Inc. "We look forward to working with Microsoft as Windows Media Technologies 4.0 is deployed."

"We view spoken audio as an important growth category of digital media distribution, said Will Poole, senior director, Marketing and Business Development , Microsoft Corp. "We look forward to Audible's exciting collection of premium content becoming available on the Windows Media platform."

About Audible Inc.

Founded in 1995, Audible Inc., based in Wayne, NJ, aims to combine the growing popularity of spoken audio programming with the rapid development of commercial viability of the Internet. The company is focused on audio content sourcing, development, packaging, secure delivery, and playback, as well as continued development of the platform, tools, services, and varied licensing opportunities afforded by the Audible MobileAudio System. The company services Internet-savvy business professionals and other consumers whose primary needs include staying informed of critical business information and having access to the best entertainment-based audio. Audible provides unique content services that allows customers to program their own listening time and take better advantage of their commute and travel time by delivering premium information and entertainment when and where they need it.

Audible.com's investors include AT&T Ventures, C. Blair Asset Management, CSK Venture Capital, Compaq Computer Corporation, Hambrecht & Quist LLC, Intel Corporation, Ironwood Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Patricof & Co., Microsoft Corp., New York Life Insurance Company, and TTC Ventures (The Thompson Corporation).