7th Level Partners with RealNetworks in Wide-Ranging Agreement to Distribute 7th Level's Streamed Character Animation Technology.SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 1998-- 7th Level to Support RealNetworks RealSystem G2 7th Level, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :SEVL) and RealNetworks, Inc. (NASDAQ:RNWK RNWK Real Networks (stock symbol) ) today announced at the RealNetworks Conference that they have entered into a distribution agreement whereby RealNetworks will distribute 7th Level's streamed character animation Character animation is a specialized process of the animation process, concerning the animation of one or more characters featured in an animated work. It is usually as one aspect of a larger production, and often to complement voice acting. technology. With more than 100,000 daily downloads Daily Download was an original daily music show that aired on Fuse TV, which was hosted mostly by Marianela and Dylan Lane. The show aimed for music fans by having a countdown of America's most downloaded songs and every weekdays they would offer music downloads by f.y.e. of its RealPlayer(TM) and more than 22 million RealSystem(TM) users, RealNetworks is the recognized leader in streaming media See streaming audio, streaming video and digital media hub. . 7th Level is a leading developer of Internet media preparation software and has emerged as a new force in streamed character animation technology. At the conference, 7th Level demonstrated its new streaming character creation tool, "Agent7(TM)". Agent7 is an affordable, easy-to-use software tool that enables anyone to prepare - within a matter of minutes A Matter of Minutes is an episode from the television series The New Twilight Zone. Cast
in full Uniform Resource Locator Address of a resource on the Internet. The resource can be any type of file stored on a server, such as a Web page, a text file, a graphics file, or an application program. - triggers animation of the character, including accurate lip synching. The characters can be refreshed and updated on servers, all transparent to the user. The result is an engaging, lifelike caricature that speaks to the viewer and moves within the Web page according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the intonations of the audio stream. With the ease-of-use of the technology and the unique combination of streaming audio A one-way audio transmission over a data network. It is widely used on the Web as well as company networks to play audio clips and Internet radio. Computers in home networks stream audio (mostly music) to digital media hubs connected to home theaters. and character animation, Agent7 characters are extremely powerful agents for advertising, entertainment, e-commerce, training, customer support and other e-business scenarios. "This distribution agreement with RealNetworks is phase one of our strategy to become the market leader in streamed character animation technology," said Richard Merrick, 7th Level's Chief Strategist. "With RealNetworks' total dominance in the delivery of streamed media, RealNetworks will help us achieve market ubiquity Ubiquity See also Omnipresence. Burma-Shave their signs seen as “verses of the wayside throughout America.” [Am. Commerce and Folklore: Misc. for our technology, and we believe that is the essential first phase of any successful Internet software endeavor," said Merrick. "Agent7 characters bring websites to life by engaging the viewer with intelligent, entertaining, audio-triggered animation, and we're confident that these characters will come to populate To plug in chips or components into a printed circuit board. A fully populated board is one that contains all the devices it can hold. the Web through RealNetworks' vast distribution network." Merrick also noted that 7th Level's advanced technology will provide full support for the RealNetworks Media Architecture. "Users of our new RealPlayer G2 will benefit greatly from this agreement with 7th Level," said Len Jordan, Senior Vice President, RealNetworks. "Now they will be able to view high impact streaming characters on the Web using our new AutoUpdate feature, without having to download an entire additional 3rd party player." 7th Level's partnership with RealNetworks now cements 7th Level's position as a leading developer of Internet animation technology. Since its exit from the CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). business in November of 1997, 7th Level has quietly but successfully repositioned itself as a focused Internet software concern, and the company intends to continue aggressively leveraging its core media preparation technology into narrowband, midband and broadband delivery systems. According to Donald Schupak, 7th Level's Chairman, "With this landmark agreement with RealNetworks, the re-architecture of 7th Level begun last year is now complete, and our total focus is to the future and the adoption of our Internet character animation technology as a standard in the marketplace." Schupak also said, "We're delighted that RealNetworks has recognized the value of our technology and has agreed to partner with us in the maiden launch of our first commercial Internet product, Agent7." About 7th Level 7th Level, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEVL) is a developer of leading-edge Internet software which can be used by anyone to quickly and easily create rich-media content for use in advertising, e-commerce, training, customer support and other e-business applications. 7th Level's Agent7 technology is the first of its kind for preparing and streaming intelligent, interactive animated characters over the Internet. 7th Level recently signed strategic marketing and distribution agreements with WaveTop, a division of WavePhore, Inc. (NASDAQ:WAVO WAVO Association of Women Against Violence ), and AudioNet. Additional information on 7th Level is available via the company web site at www.7thlevel.com. About RealNetworks RealNetworks, (NASDAQ:RNWK), based in Seattle, WA, is the recognized leader in the streaming media market. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. RealNetworks can be found on the World Wide Web at www.real.com. -0- RealNetworks, RealPlayer, and RealSystem are trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective o Gary Fishman/Susan Romeo Hudson Stone 212/527-4808 |
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