SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 7, 1999 — Today at Streaming Media West ’99, Sonicbox Inc., the leading supplier of Web radio imBand TM products, and Microsoft Corp. announced that the new Sonicbox TM imBand Remote Tuner now supports Windows Media TM Technology to deliver Internet radio to the home stereo system. Also today, Bill Gates, chairman and CEO of Microsoft, will showcase the company’s new Sonicbox imBand Remote Tuner using Windows Media at his keynote address opening the Streaming Media West Conference in San Jose. The conference is the world’s largest Internet audio and video event; further details may be found at http://www.streamingmedia.net/streamingmedia/ .
Sonicbox selected the Microsoft® Windows Media format for the imBand Remote Tuner because it offers high-quality streamed digital audio plus integrated digital rights management technology. Consumers will now be able to stream or download their favorite Windows Media-formatted digital music to their PC from the Internet, create their own play lists, and play them on their own stereo system receivers using the Sonicbox imBand tuner attached to their PC.
The Sonicbox imBand Remote Tuner is an under $50 PC add-on that allows consumers with a broadband Internet connection to enjoy a wide variety of Web radio programming anywhere in their home. Consisting of two parts, the imBand Remote Tuner has a base unit that connects to the PC and a portable remote tuner that remains with the listener. The base-unit transmits Web audio on an unused frequency to FM radios within the home and receives commands from the remote tuner. The remote tuner allows the listener to select from hundreds of stations with the turn of a knob and purchase CDs with the push of a button.
Sonicbox recently announced an alliance with NetRadio.com to enable the first wave of stations to be carried on the Sonicbox tuner, as well as the deployment of the first units in a trial currently underway. The full rollout is expected during the first quarter of 2000.
“Sonicbox is honored to have been selected by Bill Gates as a showcase product for his keynote address at Streaming Media West,”
said Niko Bolas, president of Sonicbox.
“The Sonicbox takes radio into its next evolutionary step to imBand — Web radio that makes listeners happy and makes stations profitable. Working with the Windows Media format, the imBand Remote Tuner delivers quality streams and turn-the-knob tuning on anything from a clock radio to a multithousand-dollar audio system, all using the PC as the ‘nerve center’ to deliver killer music and audio from the Web.”
“Microsoft is a firm believer in delivering broadband content from the PC throughout the home — the Sonicbox imBand Remote Tuner is the first concrete example we’ve seen of making this possible in a consumer-friendly, low-cost fashion,”
said Will Poole, general manager, Streaming Media Division, Microsoft.
“The combination of Windows Media with the Sonicbox imBand Remote Tuner is a real win for consumers seeking the best-quality music delivered throughout their home.”
About Sonicbox Inc.
Based in Mountain View, Calif., Sonicbox is changing the face of radio with Web radio tuner appliances. Sonicbox imBand Tuners make listening to Internet radio as easy as tuning an FM dial. With a Sonicbox imBand Remote Tuner, listeners can turn the knob and tune into a wide range of Web radio stations from around the world. Also freed from their PCs, listeners can use a Sonicbox imBand Tuner to enjoy Internet radio throughout their home. More information is available on the Web at http://www.sonicbox.com/ .
About WindowsMedia.com
WindowsMedia.com ( http://windowsmedia.com/ ), part of the MSN TM network of Internet services, is among the fastest-growing major audio and video guides on the Internet. WindowsMedia.com provides access to localized audio and video content worldwide, including major music and video events and entertainment from more than 1,000 content providers.
About Windows Media Technologies
Windows Media Technologies is the leading digital media platform, providing consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations with unmatched audio and video quality. Windows Media Technologies 4, which includes Windows Media Player, Windows Media Services, Windows Media Tools and the Windows Media SDK, is available for free* download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ . The Windows Media Player is the fastest growing media player. More than 50 million copies have been downloaded to date — growing by more than one every second.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
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