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PortalPlayer
Announces Strategic Relationship with Microsoft to
Enable New Classes of Consumer Devices Based on Windows Media Technologies
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SANTA CLARA, Calif., December 7 PortalPlayer, Inc., a California Corporation announced a
strategic relationship with Microsoft Corp. to enable PC application, firmware, and chip
support for a broad range of consumer electronics products that will use the Microsoft
Windows Media Format and Digital Rights Management (DRM) solution. |
"PortalPlayer’ s innovative Windows Media
end-to-end solution is another strong indicator of the Windows Media building momentum
both among consumers and the industry," said Dave Fester, director of marketing,
Streaming Media Division, Microsoft Corp. "This kind of innovative support will make
devices much easier to access for consumers, allowing them to enjoy the great music of top
artists and labels, who can now securely distribute their music across the Internet." |
PortalPlayer has agreed to license the Windows Media and DRM technologies for its
forthcoming ARM7 based systems. PortalPlayer will support the Windows Media Device Manager
to enable Windows 9.x and Windows 2000 OS environments to easily manage and transfer
secure digital media. The company is initially targeting portable audio players, portable
MiniDisc/CD players, and mini-component audio systems for its solutions. In the future,
other form factors including home networked audio components and cellular phones will
include the technology. |
PortalPlayer also announced their intention to support future generations of Windows Media
Technologies. "We believe that as the proliferation of the Windows Media decoders and
wide use of the Windows Media Player continues to expand, the adoption by the major and
independent labels will continue to grow at a rapid pace," said Michael Maia, Vice
President of Marketing at PortalPlayer. "Windows Media support will be a key
must-have in addition to MP3 decoders in the summer of 2000 due to increased availability
of content and CD-Quality music at half the size of MP3 files. |
PortalPlayer will support Microsoft’s Digital Rights Management solution that
enables secure music distribution. Supported by major record labels including Sony,
Capital and BMG, the end-to-end solution will support the current Secure Digital Music
Initiative (SDMI) specification as well as offer flashable upgrades as the standard
evolves.
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PortalPlayer, Inc., develops and markets to consumer electronics manufacturers complete
end-to-end solutions for delivery and management of open and secure digital media with a
focus today on MP3 players/recorders. Products include destination website applications,
PC media management software, firmware, and semiconductors. The Company’s products
support Internet-based delivery of multimedia content including music and other audio
content, print and ultimately video materials to a variety of playback devices including
portable MP3 players, home and automotive entertainment systems, and cellular phones. |
Founded in June 1999, PortalPlayer is headquartered in Santa Clara, California with branch
offices in Seattle, Washington and Hyderabad, India. The company has rapidly grown to more
than 50 employees worldwide. PortalPlayer received its first round of funding from Chase
Capital, Techfund, and FlatIron Partners.
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PortalPlayer is
a registered trademark of PortalPlayer, Inc. ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Ltd.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information:
Michael Maia
PortalPlayer, Inc.
3255 Scott Blvd., Bldg. 1
Santa Clara, CA 95054
408-855-0837
michael.maia@portalplayer.com
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