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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Stations Start Streaming to 3GPP Mobile Devices via Orban's OPTICODEC-PC
TEMPE, Ariz.-- June 23, 2005 -- Orban(R)/CRL (OTCBB: CRLI) has announced that several Internet netcasters are now streaming high-quality stereo audio programming to 3GPP mobile devices via Orban's OPTICODEC-PC aacPlus(TM) streaming software. Groove Salad, Secret Agent, and Indie Pop Rocks from San Francisco netcaster SomaFM and Santa Fe, N.M.'s Blu 102.9 FM are all streaming using 3GPP streaming technology in addition to their normal aacPlus audio streams. According to Rusty Hodge of SomaFM, "3GPP aacPlus streams can actually sound better than FM radio. With these netcasters using this innovative technology, it is sure to help set the pace for more high-quality streams and content to become available to the exploding wireless communications market."
In addition to streaming to 3GPP devices, both netcasters are using OPTICODEC-PC to stream via MPEG-2 HTTP and MPEG-4 RTSP to computers running Winamp 5.09 or Real10 client players, respectively. These stations join the many other netcasters who are listed on www.opticodec.net/www.tuner2.com, a free streaming directory listing site for OPTICODEC-PC aacPlus netcasts. 3GPP streams are now also listed at www.tuner2.com/tuner/tuner2.wml for WAP browsers.
Compared to MP3 and Windows Media Audio, these stations have found that OPTICODEC-PC's advanced aacPlus codec can reduce their bandwidth costs by almost two-thirds while increasing the audio quality they deliver to their listeners. Moreover, OPTICODEC-PC's robust metadata facilities ensure that listeners will get real-time readout of artist and title on their computers and/or compatible 3GPP devices. Terry Hardy of Blu 102.9 commented, "The robustness of the encoder's network connection allows automatic encoder-to-server reconnection under adverse network conditions, guaranteeing maximum uptime. Thanks to the low CPU usage, multiple streams for different streaming servers and formats can easily be run on the same computer."
AAC/aacPlus is changing the way that low bit rate audio is perceived. For a given bit rate, it sonically outperforms any other codec currently available. Compared to MP3 and Windows Media Audio, OPTICODEC-PC's aacPlus codec provides a better than 60% improvement in audio quality versus bit rate, reducing network streaming bandwidth requirements and costs accordingly. At 32 kbps, OPTICODEC-PC streams offer close to FM quality, without the phasey, watery character of other popular codecs operating at this bit rate. Many listeners prefer the audio quality of 48 kbps streams to FM and other codecs.
SomaFM is a listener-supported, commercial-free Internet netcaster. Founded in 1999 by Rusty Hodge in San Francisco and publicly launched in February 2000, SomaFM has grown from one channel to its current offering of seven distinctly different, full-time music channels including Groove Salad (ambient/downtempo), Secret Agent (cinematic lounge), Indie Pop Rocks (college/indie), Drone Zone (ambient/space), Cliqhop (IDM/experimental electronica) and Tag's Trance (progressive house and trance). SomaFM's mission is to develop and produce music formats not available on commercial radio. At any time, there are between 4,000 and 9,000 listeners, with a daytime Average Quarter Hour of 5,900 that is steadily rising. SomaFM receives more than 440,000 unique listener tune-ins a month from more than 25 countries.
There is a fresh new sound gaining popularity across the United States and it made its commercial debut in Santa Fe on Radio Blu 102.9 FM. Owned by Blu Ventures, a media, entertainment and technology company whose partners have been in broadcasting for more than 25 years, the music format on Blu 102.9 FM has never before been heard as a full-time radio format in the United States. Originating on the beaches of Ibiza and Spain's island of Cafe del Mar, this musical genre has been a European phenomenon in the adult club scene. It has its roots in pop, dance, electronica, smooth jazz and world music. Unlike dance club music, this format appeals to a wide spectrum of ages and musical tastes. It has the potential to reinvigorate radio by attracting a younger audience without endangering the top end of the age demographics.
Orban/CRL Systems is a world leader in the design and manufacture of transmission audio processors and software for broadcasting and the Internet. For more information on Orban and CRL products, contact David Rusch at tel: 480-403-8300; fax: 480-403-8301; e-mail: drusch@orban.com. Information is also available at www.orban.com and www.orban-europe.com.
About Orban/CRL
Founded in 1970 by Bob Orban, the world's foremost expert in transmission audio processing for broadcast, Orban leads the industry in the design and manufacture of audio processors for radio, television and Internet broadcasting. Recognized for its standard-setting Optimod(R) digital audio processors and the Audicy digital audio workstation, the Orban name has become synonymous with reliable, high-performance products. Today, its versatile audio processing equipment, editing tools and codecs are the products of choice in fast-paced production environments worldwide. In 2000, Orban(R) was acquired by Circuit Research Labs -- a manufacturer of high-quality digital and analog audio processing, transmission encoding, and noise reduction equipment. Orban/CRL Systems now accounts for the majority of the global market for radio, TV and Internet audio processing. As technology evolves, Orban/CRL continues to innovate with state-of-the-art audio processing products for DAB, DTV and streaming media.
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