RealNetworks is a Seattle-based provider of Internet media delivery software and services. The company is best known for the creation of RealAudio, a compressed audio format, and RealVideo, a compressed video format, and for its leadership in the field of streaming media.

RealMedia audio streaming files can contain RealAudio and RealVideo streams, and several other formats like SMIL. Helix is their open source media framework. The code is released under the RealNetworks Public Source License starting in 2003 and the GPL in 2004.

Music Store

In August 2003, Real acquired Listen.com's Rhapsody music service, and renames it RealRhapsody. It offers streaming music downloads for a monthly fee. In January 2004, Real announced that they are creating RealPlayer Music Store , featuring DRM-protected music in the AAC file format.

History

RealNetworks (then known as Progressive Networks) was founded by ex-Microsoft executive Rob Glaser in 1993. The original goal of the company was to provide a distribution channel for politically progressive content. It quickly evolved into a technology venture to leverage the Internet as an alternative distribution medium for audio broadcasts.

Company timeline:

• November 1993: Progressive Networks formed
• April 1995: RealAudio 1.0 released (finalized June 1995)
• August 1995: First live broadcast of a baseball game over the Internet between the Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees
• October 1995: RealAudio 2.0 debuts (finalized April 1996)
• September 1996: RealAudio 3.0 launches, with debut of Sheryl Crow's single "If It Makes You Happy"
• October 1996: RTSP standardization initiative launched with Netscape Communications Corporation
• September 1997: Progressive Networks changes name to "RealNetworks", and files with the SEC to become a publicly traded company
• November 1997: Initial Public Offering of shares from RealNetworks (RNWK).
• February 1997: RealVideo debuts as part of RealPlayer 4.0 (finalized June 1997)
• July 1997: Broad technology and investment relationship between Progressive Networks and Microsoft
• September 1997: RealSystem 5.0 debuts, adding support for Macromedia Flash
• March 1998: RealNetworks acquires software maker Vivo
• April 1998: RealSystem G2 debuts. G2 was a complete rearchitecture of RealSystem, allowing development of plugins at all levels of the system. G2 was the first release to support RTSP, SMIL, GIF, JPEG, RealPix , and RealText .
• July 1998: Rob Glaser testifies before the United States Senate regarding competitive practices of Microsoft
• April 1999: RealNetworks acquires software maker Xing Technology
• May 1999: RealJukebox 1.0 launched
• November 1999: RealPlayer 7 launched, with Take5 daily programming service and MP3 support
• May 2000: RealSystem 8 debuts, with RealVideo 8
• July 2001: RealNetworks reduces staff by 15%
• September 2001: RealOne Platform launched, including new subscription service
• January 2002: RealOne subscription service passes 500,000 subscribers
• April 2002: RealVideo 9 released
• July 2002: Helix initiative launched, along with Helix Universal Server. Initiative includes plan to release substantial parts of proprietary technologies under an open source licence. RealNetworks also announced partnership with Xiph.org to support the free software Ogg Vorbis audio codec.
• August 2002: RealNetworks reduces staff by 11%
• October 2002: Helix DNA Client source code released under open source license
• December 2002: Helix DNA Producer source code released under open source license
• January 2003: Helix DNA Server source code released under open source license
• August 2003: RealNetworks acquires Listen.com's Rhapsody music service and renames it RealRhapsody
• January 2004: RealNetworks announce RealPlayer Music Store as a response to iTunes Music Store
• July 2004: RealNetworks reverse-engineers Apple Computer's FairPlay code, allowing songs from their online store to be played on an iPod. Starts a website at www.musicfreedomofchoice.org petitioning Apple to remove the lock-out from their products, but then removes the petition when many of the signers complain about RealNetworks' similar policies.

External links

• http://www.realnetworks.com
• http://www.real.com
• See http://www.helixcommunity.org/ for more details.
• RealNetworks Public Source License and other licenses for the Helix project
• Real Player 10 for Linux
• RealNetworks press release regarding Vorbis support
• Real to launch song store
• Real gets flamed over iPod campaign
• RealNetworks' iPod Campaign Backfires