Audible and PortalPlayer Integrate Audiobook Service in New Personal Media Player Platform
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2004--
Audible and PortalPlayer Further the Evolution of Portable Media Players with Support for All Genres of Spoken Word Audio
Audible, Inc. (OTC BB: ADBL), and PortalPlayer, Inc., today announced the intention to integrate listening features and audio format support for audiobook and spoken word audio fans. PortalPlayer, the company that enabled the fast-growing music jukebox market, and Audible(R), the leading provider of digitally delivered spoken word audio, will work together on PortalPlayer's new Personal Media Player: Photo Edition development platform to optimize new portable audio players for playback of Audible's spoken word audio files.
"With research group In-Stat/MDR predicting sales of 37 million MP3 players worldwide in 2007, Audible and PortalPlayer are reacting to market demands by giving media player manufacturers easy access to the revenue-generating service that Audible provides," said Foy Sperring, Vice President Strategic Alliances, Audible, Inc. "Audible is pleased to work with market leader PortalPlayer to reach our goal of a day in which Audible is supported by all the leading media players on the market."
"Portable personal media players are the ideal devices for storing and delivering spoken word audio such as books, newspaper stories, radio broadcasts, and more," said Michael Maia, vice president of sales and marketing for PortalPlayer. "Next-generation consumer electronics devices based on PortalPlayer platforms will be optimized to take full advantage of the breadth of content available to Audible customers."
This agreement gives Audible the support of the leading manufacturer of the silicon and software found in today's most popular music jukeboxes, streamlining the technical process for making next-generation personal media players AudibleReady(R) and allowing the devices to play all of the 34,000 hours of audiobooks, audio editions of newspapers and magazines, and more available at www.audible.com.
Similarly, PortalPlayer has now positioned itself as a resource for any computer or consumer electronic original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or original design manufacturer (ODM) who desires to include AudibleReady functionality in their next-generation personal media players, and therefore add a revenue channel that is already appreciated by today's AudibleReady device and technology partners.
About Audible Inc.:
Audible(R) (www.audible.com(R)) is the Internet's largest, most diverse provider of premium spoken audio services for content download and playback on personal computers, CD or AudibleReady(R) computer-based mobile devices. Audible has more than 34,000 hours of audio programs and 135 content partners that include leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers and business information providers. Audible.com is Amazon.com's (www.amazon.com) exclusive provider of spoken word products for downloading or streaming via the Web. Additionally, the Company is strategically aligned with Random House, Inc., to pioneer the first-ever imprint to produce spoken word content specifically suited for digital distribution, Random House Audible. Among the Company's key business partners are Apple Corp., Casio Inc., Handspring, Hewlett-Packard Company, Microsoft Corporation, Palm, Inc., Royal Philips Electronics, RealNetworks, Inc., SONICblue Incorporated's Rio Audio Group, Sony Electronics, Texas Instruments and VoiceAge Corp.
About PortalPlayer:
PortalPlayer, Inc. is personalizing digital entertainment by providing complete platforms for computer and consumer electronics manufacturers to design innovative portable products that integrate audio and photo capabilities. The company's award-winning, flexible silicon and software platform has been adopted by the majority of leading audio jukebox manufacturers worldwide by providing superior features and unmatched flexibility, and enabling rapid time to market. Founded in 1999, PortalPlayer is a privately-held company with offices in Santa Clara, California; Charlotte, North Carolina; Seattle, Washington; and Hyderabad, India. For more information, visit www.portalplayer.com.
Audible, www.audible.com and AudibleReady are registered trademarks of Audible, Inc.; AudibleListener and Otis trademarks of Audible, Inc. and all are part of the family of Audible, Inc. trademarks.
Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. PortalPlayer and the PortalPlayer logo are trademarks of PortalPlayer, Inc.
Contacts
Audible, Inc.
Jonathan Korzen, 973-837-2718
jkorzen@audible.com
or
Tanis Communications For PortalPlayer
Kim Stowe, 408-839-8750
kim@taniscomm.com
