RioPort's Media Device Manager 2.0 Technologies and Jukebox Software Enhance Usability of New Compaq iPAQ Personal Audio Player

Business Wire, August 16, 2000

Business Editors

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 16, 2000

RioPort, Inc., a leading Internet music application service provider (ASP), today announced that Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) is featuring RioPort's advanced technology and software solutions in its new Compaq iPAQ Personal Audio Player (PA-1). The new device utilizes RioPort's Media Device Manager (MDM) 2.0 Technologies that support popular PC applications such as the Windows Media Player 7 and the RioPort Audio Manager.

"Through our alliance with Compaq, RioPort is delivering key technologies to products, like the PA-1, that are making it easier to find and play various digital music formats in the market today," said Jim Long, president and CEO of RioPort, Inc. "Working with Compaq, we can offer consumers the best combination of hardware and software."

The RioPort Audio Manager software enables iPAQ Personal Audio Player users to easily create, catalog and navigate through lists of songs recorded from their personal CDs or downloaded from the Web. Further, RioPort's versatile software supports multiple audio file formats, including MP3, WMA and AAC, for playback in crystal clear digital sound. Users also benefit from RioPort's secure firmware solution that enables the audio player to be upgraded for playback of newly emerging sound file formats.

"Compaq is committed to providing our customers with cutting-edge, yet easy to use products, which is why we selected RioPort's software to power our iPAQ Personal Audio Player," said Kevin Kyle, general manager, Internet and e-Tronics Division, Consumer Products Group, Compaq Computer Corporation. "With RioPort's software, we have developed a digital audio device that incorporates all of the industry leading features, including usability and file format compatibility, that our consumers have come to expect."

About RioPort, Inc.

RioPort, Inc. is a leading music/audio ASP providing e-tailers with industry-standard solutions for selling music and spoken audio content to consumers in a simple and secure manner. RioPort's distribution partners include the MTVi Group, House of Blues, Ministry of Sound and others. RioPort is backed by Oak Investment Partners, Vulcan Ventures, S3, Inc., Mitsubishi Corp., EMC Corp. and Quantum Corp.