RealNetworks Shows Off New Mobile Video Portal at CTIA

LAS VEGAS, March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CTIA Wireless -- Digital entertainment services company RealNetworks®, Inc. (RNWK), is demonstrating its new Mobile Video Portal (MVP) for mobile operators and media companies this week at CTIA Wireless.  Real—which already manages mobile video services for the two largest mobile operators in the US—has created the MVP to save operators and media companies time and money, while creating new revenue opportunities. Real's long heritage in streaming—having created the streaming media category in 1995—provides the environment to create the highest quality live and on-demand video service available.

Saves Time And Money

Real reduces the cost and resources required to manage a rich media experience by providing operators and media companies an end-to-end, white-label solution from a single, hosted platform vendor. Customers can create, manage and publish both live and on-demand video through one platform and service.  Further, Real has created innovative ways to quickly create an application (app) and publish it to all platforms, including iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry and Java, as well as create and publish Mobile Websites on most devices.

Creates Revenue Opportunities

Real's MVP creates new sponsorship, co-branding and advertising opportunities within mobile apps and websites, in addition to supporting a variety of business models that allow operators and media companies to charge for their video services.  Operators and media companies can utilize a variety of business models to build advertising revenue.  Real's easy-to-use app-creation tool provides non-technical employees an efficient way to easily create a new look-and-feel for the portal without requiring developer skills.  This allows the creative team the capability to test and optimize campaigns with minimal lag time. The advertising opportunities within the portal include banner ads, micro sites, interstitial advertising and integrated advertising experiences (i.e. rebranding the landing page for the service). In addition, tools are available to support subscription, rental and retail monetization methods, as an operator or media company chooses.

Streaming Heritage=Highest Quality

Real has more depth and experience in video streaming than any company in the industry.  It brings this history—along with a staff of highly-experienced broadcast engineers who monitor the service 24/7—to its latest video offering, providing a reliable service with high availability and fast resolution for any service issues. Currently, Real manages video services for the two largest mobile operators in the US and works with more than 150 content provider brands to manage their video assets and brands.  

"We look forward to providing more and more partners with world class video services for their customers," said Ken Pecot, vice president, Technology Products and Services, RealNetworks.  "With our current installed base for entertainment services, history in streaming, and track record of providing services that subscribers want and are willing to pay for, we believe we are well positioned to become the leading mobile video portal provider."

Real's new Mobile Video Portal (MVP) is one component of its Media Entertainment Platform, which streamlines an operator's entertainment offerings into one managed portal, providing increased efficiency for the operator and a more user-friendly entertainment experience for subscribers.

Real offers mobile operators a comprehensive selection of mobile services including: Music; Video; RBTs and personalization; and messaging services. Real's ASP services are currently available through 86 different mobile operators in 48 countries worldwide, making them available to more than 900 million subscribers.

ABOUT REALNETWORKS

RealNetworks, Inc. delivers digital entertainment services to consumers via PC, portable music player, home entertainment system or mobile phone.  Real created the streaming media category in 1995 and has continued to lead the market with pioneering products and services, including:  RealPlayer®, the first mainstream media application to enable the downloading and transfer of online video to mobile devices; the Rhapsody® digital music service, which delivers a catalog of more than 8 million songs to users at home, work and on-the-go; GameHouse.com, one of the premier casual games destinations on the Web; and a variety of mobile entertainment services, such as ringback tones, offered to consumers through leading wireless carriers around the world.  RealNetworks' corporate information is located at www.realnetworks.com/company http://www.realnetworks.com/company.

RealNetworks, RealArcade, Rhapsody, RealPlayer and the Real logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. or its subsidiaries.  All other trademarks, names of actual companies and products mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc.