SEATTLE-Streaming-video company RealNetworks Inc. today announced a deal with Sprint PCS to offer an Internet-style media player to Sprint’s Vision customers-an offering that marks a significant change in RealNetworks’ wireless strategy.
RealNetworks will offer its content, which includes feeds from CNN, NPR and others, through a Java application instead of through its RealOne player for wireless devices. RealNetworks also will host the service. The move is both a nod to the growing dominance of Java technology and its associated distribution channel, and to the difficulty of selling a proprietary player to handset manufacturers.
Prior to the deal, RealNetworks had worked to sell its player to handset manufacturers and its server to carriers-and had enjoyed a fair amount of success. The company counts Nokia Corp. and Vodafone Group plc as customers. RealNetworks said it may expand its Java offering to other carriers, but declined to provide details.
However, RealNetworks’ deal with Sprint includes a notable stipulation-one of Sprint’s handset providers will add RealNetworks’ player to a Sprint device sometime in the next year. RealNetworks declined to provide further details.
Ian Freed, vice president of RealNetworks’ mobile products and services, said the company’s move toward Java signifies its desire to cover as many devices as possible.
Java “is certainly complementary” to RealNetworks’ strategy, Freed said.
RealNetworks’ new Java application will be featured on Sprint’s wireless homepage, Freed said, and will be available on eight different handsets. The application will sell for $5, and will feature news, entertainment and sports information from CBS, Fox Sports, ABC News and other RealNetworks partners. The service features an audio track that coincides with a slide show of pictures.
Freed said RealNetworks’ partners will generate about 4 hours of new content every day for the Sprint service. Such a significant amount of content is due to RealNetworks’ extensive Internet business-the company counts more than 1 million paid Internet subscribers-since RealNetworks partners easily can modify their media feeds to play on wireless devices.
“In terms of adding more content, it’s relatively easy for them,” Freed said.
Interestingly, RealNetworks will not be the first to offer a news and information media services through Sprint. The carrier in February announced a similar deal to offer a 1KTV Java application. Freed said the RealNetworks service will feature more content than the 1KTV offering, and will be promoted more heavily.
