Deliver Your News to the World

RealNetworks and Control4 Deliver Rhapsody Music Experience to Every Corner of the Automated Home


WEBWIRE

Whole Home Automation Partnership Includes Full Integration of Rhapsody

LAS VEGAS, NV.– RealNetworks®, Inc., (NASDAQ: RNWK) and Control4, the leader in affordable IP-based control and entertainment systems, today announced plans to integrate Rhapsody®, the official digital music service of RealNetworks and MTV Networks, into the full line of Control4 Smart Home Automation Systems. In a first for home automation systems, Control4 customers will enjoy unlimited access to millions of songs from Rhapsody’s digital music service via Control4’s touch screens, keypads and any television.

During the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show, visitors to the Control4 booth (#21407) or RealNetworks booth (#36200) can preview the Control4/Rhapsody integration.

“Rhapsody gives consumers the freedom to create a truly personalized home music experience through instant access to over four and a half million songs,” said Rob Williams, SVP music software, RealNetworks. “We are thrilled to be working with Control4 to, for the first time, offer consumers the Rhapsody music experience as part of a complete smart home automation system.”

Control4’s intuitive Navigator software extends Rhapsody’s vast music selection beyond the PC and gives consumers the freedom to access their personal library of playlists and albums in any room of their home. The Rhapsody/Control4 integration also gives music fans the ability to play back music from Rhapsody’s robust 4.5 million song catalog, enjoy Rhapsody’s professional programmed music channels and discover new music through personalized music recommendations. The extension of Rhapsody’s music experience to Control4’s hardware is made possible by Rhapsody DNA, a platform of technologies that enables seamless integration of Rhapsody into a broad range of consumer electronics devices.

“Integrating Rhapsody into our system adds an important new dimension to Control4’s whole-home automation and entertainment experience,” said Will West, CEO at Control4. “We’ve been successful by meeting the growing desire of homeowners to access multiple media forms through a single simple interface. Working with RealNetworks on this first-of-its-kind, ground breaking digital home initiative has been a fantastic opportunity for our company and the entire home automation category.”

As part of the launch of the Rhapsody/Control4 integration, Control4 users will have access to an automatic free 30-day trial of Rhapsody. Consumers can choose to continue their Rhapsody service beyond the trial period for $12.99 per month. Current Rhapsody subscribers can access their existing Rhapsody music libraries (including artists, albums, playlists and channels) at no extra charge.

Control4 home automation systems are available through Control4 certified dealers. To locate a dealer or for more information about the systems, visit www.control4.com.
About Control4
Control4 is the first company to make whole-home automation a practical option for any residence. The company makes everyday life easier by providing one-touch control of both new and existing electronic systems in the home. By allowing different systems to work together, Control4 provides effortless entertainment, comfort, convenience and peace of mind to homeowners everywhere. Control4’s affordable and easy to use products enable home theater control, multi-room music, smart lighting, temperature control and security, through a range of in-home and over-the-web remote control technology. The company delivers both wired and wireless solutions that can be installed in existing homes as well as homes under construction. Visit www.control4.com for more information.
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks®, Inc. delivers digital entertainment services to consumers via PC, portable music player, home entertainment system or mobile phone. Real created the streaming media category in 1995 and has continued to lead the market with pioneering products and services, including: RealPlayer®, the first mainstream media player to enable one-click downloading and recording of Internet video; the award-winning Rhapsody® digital music service, which delivers more than 1 billion songs per year; RealArcade®, one of the largest casual games destinations on the Web; and a variety of mobile entertainment services, such as ringback tones, offered to consumers through leading wireless carriers around the world. RealNetworks’ corporate information is located at www.realnetworks.com/company.
About Rhapsody
Rhapsody® offers an integrated and immersive digital music experience accessible to consumers via their computer, portable music device and soon their mobile phone. Rhapsody is the exclusive digital music service for RealNetworks and for MTV Networks’ music and pop-culture brands in the United States. Rhapsody is a service of Rhapsody America LLC, a joint venture between and MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) and RealNetworks (Nasdaq RNWK).
For more information, contact:
Media contact:
Joelle A. Kenealey
Coltrin & Associates (for Control4)
650-373-2005
Joelle_Kenealey@coltrin.com



WebWireID56205





This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.