Nifty Corp., Japan's Top Online Service Company, Begins Music E-commerce With RioPort Providing Digital Audio Download Service

Business Wire, July 24, 2000

Business/Entertainment Editors & High-Tech/Music Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2000

RioPort Inc., a leading Internet music application service provider (ASP), today announced that it is providing digital audio content and download services for all of Nifty Corp.'s @nifty sites, serving more than 3.82 million members as of June 30.

"We are excited to provide Nifty with RioPort's Pulse One Music Service and expect this relationship to further accelerate our momentum in providing quality content to consumers in Japan and around the world," said Nick Endo, manager of RioPort's Japan operation.

Nifty is utilizing a range of RioPort's Pulse One Music Service, including the aggregation of digital music and audio tracks from a broad range of third-party providers, design of each site's download area and handling of all security and e-commerce functions for the safe transfer and sale of artists' music and spoken audio content.

Tracks are offered for distribution and sale in the Windows Media DRM and content format. RioPort also created Nifty-branded versions of its RioPort Audio Manager jukebox software, which Nifty customers can download from the @nifty sites.

"This launch of the Nifty music service represents an important milestone for RioPort as it is our first e-commerce initiative linking our music services infrastructure to a significant ISP delivery system," said Anthony Schaller, senior vice president and chief technology officer of RioPort Inc.

"Our partnership with Nifty is exciting because we are working with the No. 1 service provider in our most important international market," said Jim Long, president and CEO of RioPort Inc.

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., EMC Corp., Quantum Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric.

About Nifty Corp.

Nifty Corp. (http://www.nifty.com/corp/english/index.htm), a Fujitsu Ltd. company, is Japan's top online service company, with more than 3.82 million members (as of June 30). Nifty offers members a Japanese-language-based electronic mail system, an Internet connection, and access to Japanese news wires and financial information, along with community feature areas similar to CompuServe's Forums. It provides a wide range of online services including communications, news and information, online shopping and forums.