RealNetworks, Inc. is an Internet streaming media software and delivery service provider based in Seattle, Washington, United States. The company also provides subscription-based online entertainment services and cellular entertainment and messaging services.
Video RealNetworks
Histori
RealNetworks (later known as Progressive Networks ) was founded in 1994 by former Microsoft executive Rob Glaser and management teams including Phil Barrett, Andy Sharpless and Stephen Buerkle. The company's original goal was to provide a distribution channel for politically progressive content. It evolved into a technological endeavor to utilize the Internet as an alternative distribution medium for audio broadcasts. The Progressive Network became RealNetworks in September 1997.
RealNetworks is a pioneer in streaming media markets and broadcast one of the previous audio shows over the Internet - a baseball game between New York Yankees and Seattle MarinersÃ, - on September 5, 1995. They announced streaming video technology in 1997. According to some accounts, in 2000 , more than 85% of the content streamed on the Internet in Real format.
Despite this success, problems arise because the main business model of Real relies on the sales of streaming media server software, and Microsoft and Apple have provided those products. Because servers from Microsoft and Apple are becoming more capable, the sales of Real servers must be eroded.
On January 20, 2000, RealNetworks, Inc. filed an order against Streambox, Inc. related products that are designed to convert Real Audio format files (.rm) to other formats. On December 4, 2001, the company launched the first coordinated effort to sell and send music from major record labels via the Internet, part of a broader initiative by companies to develop subscription Internet services intended for Web users with fast Internet connections. In 2002, a strategic alliance was established between RealNetworks and Sony Corporation to expand the collaboration. In October 2005, Microsoft agreed to pay RealNetworks $ 460 million to settle the antitrust lawsuit.
In August 2003, RealNetworks acquired Rhapsody's music service from Listen.com, and renamed it with RealRhapsody . It offers streaming music downloads for a monthly fee. In January 2004, RealNetworks announced RealPlayer Music Store, which features digital rights management (DRM) music in AAC file format. After some initial efforts to push their own DRM scheme (named Helix DRM ) to all device manufacturers with Creative Zen Xtra and Sansa e200r as the only devices available, they sparked controversy by introducing a technology called Harmony which allows their music to play on iPods and Microsoft Windows Media Audio DRM devices that use "wrappers" that will turn Helix DRM into two other target DRM schemes.
Domains real.com attracted at least 67 million visitors each year in 2008, according to the Compete.com study.
On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody was twisted from RealNetworks.
In July 2013, RealNetworks acquired Slingo for $ 15.6 million. The company introduced a mobile app named Listen in April 2014 that plays a special ringtone for those who call the user's phone.
Maps RealNetworks
Headquarters
RealNetworks has its headquarters in Seattle, Washington at the Home Plate Center building in SoDo opposite Safeco Field, sharing buildings with King5 and Logic 20/20 Consulting.
Products and services
Subscription service
In 2000, one of the earliest products, the RealDownload download manager, was already used to drive small software, such as games, to customer computers. On subscriptions to RealDownload and using RealVideo streaming technology, a service called GoldPass, including unlimited access to video footage from ABC preview and movies, is offered to registered users for a $ 10 monthly fee. More content was added through bidding with CBS for the Big Brother reality show and NBA basketball.
After the dot-com bubble, RealNetworks cuts off most resources. Some content is missing, some limited to local markets, for example. , Ministry of Sound is only available to customers in the UK. With the increased use of broadband, RealNetworks began offering live broadcasts CNN International, BBC World, Al-Jazeera etc., separately for the price between $ 6 and $ 12, or bundled in SuperPass about $ 35 per month depending on the market. Between 2003 and 2006, SuperPass included, for European customers, unlimited access to recordings of the full UEFA Champions League match.
RealDVD
On September 30, 2008, RealNetworks launched a new product called RealDVD. This software allows users to store copies of DVD movies at their disposal. The company was later found to be in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the RealNetworks contract with the DVD Copy Control Association, as the software also allows anyone to store movies that they do not legally own. (See RealNetworks, Inc. v. DVD Copy Control Ass'n, Inc. ). The distribution of the product is prohibited by court order.
Real Alternative
Real Alternative is a discontinued software package that allows users to play RealMedia files without installing RealPlayer. The latest version, 2.02, was released on February 19, 2010. This includes Media Player Classic.
Starting in 2010, RealNetworks sued Hilbrand Edskes, a 26-year-old Dutch webmaster for incorporating hyperlinks to Real Alternative on his website www.codecpack.nl. RealNetworks alleges that Real Alternative is a reverse engineered package. Meanwhile, Download.com and FileHippo continue to host software products, unparalleled.
In November 2011 RealNetworks case against Edskes was dismissed and RealNetworks was ordered to pay a compensation of EUR48,000. Case details and ratings have been published.
RealTimes (formerly RealPlayer Cloud)
RealNetworks in September 2013 launched RealPlayer Cloud, a service that adds the ability to share videos recorded on smartphones and tablets. RealPlayer Cloud links to existing RealPlayer, but also has Web apps and apps for Android, iOS, and Roku. This service has 2GB of free cloud storage and more storage for a monthly fee. This was renamed RealTimes in May 2015, with a new focus on creating and sharing "Acts" - a video collage of user's personal photos and videos, set to background music.
Helix
Helix is ​​a streaming media software and service intended for digital TV receivers, mobile devices, as well as QuickTime, Flash, and other programs. These include open source code Helix and Helix Universal Server, which host, distribute and manage digital rights for multimedia content. Helix competes with Windows Media 9 Series from Microsoft, but puts more emphasis on open-source. Helix announced in July 2002. Support for mobile devices was added in November 2005. It was discontinued in October 2014.
GameHouse
RealNetworks entered the gaming market in October 2001 with RealArcade, a PC game distribution app that allows users to play free casual video games for 60 minutes, then decide if they want to buy it. Many games were developed by GameHouse, which RealNetworks acquired for $ 35.6 million in 2004. In 2010, RealNetworks relaunched its game division under the name Gamehouse. It started focusing on social games, such as the Facebook app, and in 2013 it acquired casual casino gaming company, Slingo, for $ 15.6 million.
Other products and technologies
- RealAudio, compressed audio format
- RealDownloader, download manager
- RealPlayer, media player
- RealVideo, uncompressed video format
- Rinse, digital music library cleaning tool
- Unifi, a personal cloud media service
- Mobile entertainment and messaging services for mobile operators
See also
- United States v. ASCAP
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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