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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
SoniqCast and Audible Transform Digital Listening with Wireless Audiobooks
WAYNE, N.J. & MINNEAPOLIS--July 19, 2004--
22,000 Audiobooks, Audio Periodicals, and Public Radio Programs at Audible.com(R) Now Wirelessly Delivered to SoniqCast's Element Aireo
Audible, Inc, (NASDAQ: ADBL), the leading provider of digitally delivered spoken word audio, and SoniqCast, a Petters Group Worldwide Independent Operating company, today announced that the SoniqCast Element Aireo(TM), the world's first-ever portable wireless WiFi (802.11b) MP3 player will support the Audible platform and the 50,000 hours of audiobooks and more available for download at www.audible.com.
Unlike any other MP3 player, the Aireo(TM) gives owners the freedom to manually or automatically download audio and data wirelessly, eliminating the cumbersome cable hookup process. The Aireo(TM) also provides wireless access to Audible's Internet service via Internet HotSpots and WiFi enabled computers. This is the first time that listeners can wirelessly access daily audio editions of The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and weekly audio editions of Forbes magazine, and public radio's This American Life, along with all of the other news and entertainment subscriptions available at Audible's audio-based Subscription Center, www.audible.com/subscriptions. Daily content can be scheduled to automatically download from audible.com to the Aireo(TM), transforming the daily commute into a time of day when an audiobook or audio periodical can make previously wasted 'windshield time' a dynamic, productive experience.
Most Aireo(TM) users will receive a free trial AudibleListener(R) membership offer, and free Audible software is shipping on Aireo(TM) hard drives. The free trial AudibleListener membership gives users any two audiobooks from the more than 6,000 titles available for download at audible.com, or one audiobook and one 1-month subscription to any of the programs in Audible's Subscription Center.
"This technology and co-marketing initiative with Audible provides our customers with an innovative online media service that expands the versatility of the Aireo," said Kurt Thielen, COO & President, SoniqCast. "We believe that the Audible service will appeal to Aireo users because the flexibility of wireless delivery combined with Audible's breadth of selection can transform down time into rich, productive time."
"The wireless capabilities of the Aireo create a state-of-the-art Audible listening experience for the house and car, with seemingly limitless options for how listeners can enjoy Audible audio," added Donald Katz, Chairman and CEO, Audible, Inc. "This announcement is indicative of the success we are having in building the AudibleReady platform into today's new and leading MP3 players and personal digital assistants."
About Aireo(TM):
Aireo(TM) is the world's first portable MP3 player and file caddy and a recipient of TechTV's "Best of CES" finalist award at the 2004 Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show. Aireo(TM) automatically and wirelessly moves music from a PC to the player or Audible content from any Internet Hotspot to the player, utilizing a wireless WiFi 802.11B connection. This eliminates the manual download process and the use of wires required with other MP3 players. In addition to moving content wirelessly from PC to player, Aireo's internal FM transmitter allows the user to wirelessly transmit audio from the player directly to a car stereo. This eliminates more wires and accessories required by other MP3 players.
Aireo(TM) includes SoniqSync(TM) audio content management software. Other notable features include an internal hard disk drive, a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, a built-in FM transmitter for wireless broadcasting of music over home or car stereo systems, and two headphone outputs for multiple-party private listening. Retailing at stores nationwide, Aireo(TM) comes with a carrying case, headphones, an AC power adapter cord/charger, USB cable, installation guide, SoniqSync(TM) personal preferences play list manager, and owners manual. Please go to www.soniqcast.com to obtain retail locations.
About Audible.com:
Audible.com, recently named the best consumer Web service by CNet.com, and one of the "Best of Today's Web" by PC World features daily audio editions of The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times -- available on a subscription basis in time for the morning drive to work each day--as well as Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Scientific American, and Fast Company. The site offers a powerful collection of audiobook best sellers and classics by authors such as Tom Clancy, Stephen King, John Grisham, Janet Evanovich, James Patterson, the Dalai Lama, David McCullough, Stephen Hawking, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, and Jane Austen. There are also speeches, lectures, and on-demand radio programs including Marketplace, All Things Considered, Car Talk, Fresh Air, and This American Life, and original shows such as RobinWilliams@audible.com. All of the programs at audible.com are available for computer-based playback, burning to audio CD, and on-the-go listening using numerous AudibleReady(R) portable digital audio players offered by leading consumer electronics and computer manufacturers.
About SoniqCast:
SoniqCast is a leading-edge innovator of consumer electronic audio products that use the latest technologies to provide simple and pleasurable audio experiences. A recipient of the TechTV Best of CES finalist award, SoniqCast launched the Aireo in February 2004 as the world's first portable WiFi MP3 player. For additional information visit www.soniqcast.com.
About Petters Group Worldwide:
Petters Group Worldwide is a dynamic collection of companies that create, develop, and invest in companies that manufacture, procure, and market consumer merchandise. From hot technology and preferred brands to superior manufacturing, Petters Group Worldwide gives retailers the products they want, when they want them...at prices that keep them competitive! For additional information visit www.pettersgroup.com.
About Audible Inc.:
Audible(R) (www.audible.com(R)) is the Internet's largest, most diverse provider of premium spoken audio services for content download and playback on personal computers, CD, or AudibleReady(R) computer-based mobile devices. Audible has more than 50,000 hours of audio programs and 165 content partners that include leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers, and business information providers. Audible.com is Amazon.com's (www.amazon.com) exclusive provider of spoken word products for downloading or streaming via the Web. Additionally, the Company is strategically aligned with Random House, Inc., to pioneer the first-ever imprint to produce spoken word content specifically suited for digital distribution, Random House Audible. Among the Company's key business partners are Apple Corp., Casio Inc., Creative Labs, Inc. Handspring, Hewlett-Packard Company, Microsoft Corporation, Palm, Inc., Royal Philips Electronics, RealNetworks, Inc., Digital Networks North America, Inc. Rio Audio Group, Sony Electronics, Texas Instruments, and VoiceAge Corporation.
Audible, www.audible.com, AudibleListener, and AudibleReady are registered trademarks of Audible, Inc. and all are part of the family of Audible, Inc. trademarks.
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