Audible Inc. Joins Diamond Multimedia's RioPort.com Internet Music Portal as Premier Spoken Audio Provider.

WAYNE, N.J./SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 1999-- Audible Inc., a leader in secure distribution of premium audio content via the Internet, and Diamond Multimedia, a leader in PC multimedia and Internet connectivity, today announced that a growing selection of premium spoken word audio programming is available through Diamond Multimedia's RioPort.com Internet music and audio portal, http://www.rioport.com.

Visitors to RioPort will find that as the premier contributor of spoken audio to the site, Audible is providing a wide range of audio files for mobile playback on Diamond Multimedia's Rio PMP300 Internet music player. Audible's quality spoken audio provides a new and previously unavailable world of audio content to Rio customers, allowing them to listen to audiobooks, educational material, comedy, and much more.

Audio that Audible is currently providing to RioPort.com consists of promotional selections from top fiction, mystery, spirituality, academic, and humor programs, featuring Stephen King reading from Bag of Bones. In addition, academic lectures from The Teaching Company, A+ Audio Study Guides to Classic Literature from Time Warner AudioBooks, adult fiction from Passion Press, lectures on Eastern mysticism from Joseph Campbell, James Bond in audio from dh audio, stand-up comedy from Uproar Entertainment and a number of programs from Internet and technology pundits are available. Audio titles that are coming soon include famous short stories, best-selling audiobooks in serialized format, the Instant Genius guide to the stock market, the Motley Fool on investing, Alan Watts on Zen Buddhism and daily news programs.

"This is the first milestone in a deepening partnership with Diamond," stated Andy Huffman, president and CEO of Audible Inc. "As we work with Diamond to address the intellectual property issues inherent in the MP3 platform, being able to listen to free selections of fiction, educational material and comedy alongside music is an obvious bonus to owners of Rios."

"Spoken audio content is a very important market segment for the Rio product line," said Ken Comstock, general manager of the audio business unit at Diamond Multimedia. "Our strategic relationship with Audible is key to delivery top-quality audio content to our customer base."

About Audible

Founded in 1995, Audible Inc., based in Wayne, NJ, aims to combine the growing popularity of spoken audio programming with the rapid development of commercial viability of the Internet. The company is focused on audio content sourcing, development, packaging, secure delivery, and playback, as well as continued development of the platform, tools, services, and varied licensing opportunities afforded by the Audible MobileAudio System. The company services Internet-savvy business professionals and other consumers whose primary needs include staying informed of critical business information and having access to the best entertainment-based audio. Audible provides unique content services that allows customers to program their own listening time and take better advantage of their commute and travel time by delivering premium information and entertainment when and where they need it.

Audible Inc.'s investors include AT&T Ventures, Compaq Computer Corporation, Hambrecht & Quist LLC, The Intel Corporation, Ironwood Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Patricof & Co., and TTC Ventures (The Thompson Corporation).

About Diamond Multimedia

Diamond Multimedia is a leader in PC multimedia and Internet connectivity, providing advanced products that enable desktop computer users to create, access and experience compelling new media content from their PC's and through the Internet. Products include the Rio series of Internet audio appliances; the Stealth and Viper(R) series of video accelerators; the Monster series of 3D gaming accelerators; the Fire series of professional graphics accelerators; the Supra(R) series of modems; and the HomeFree line of home networking products. Diamond's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol DIMD, and its web site address is http://www.diamondmm.com. The Company's Internet music portal site is at http://www.RioPort.com.

Rio, Stealth, Viper, SpeedStar, Monster 3D, Micronics, Supra and HomeFree are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. Monster(R) is a registered trademark of Monster Cable. Viper(R) is a registered trademark of Directed Electronics, Inc., Used under License. All other trademarks referenced are the service mark, trademark or registered trademark of their respective manufacturers. This announcement relates to products whose introductions are in North America. The product name, contents, prices and availability may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, such as statements relating to the Company's ability to successfully exploit technological and market developments, the timing and success of new product introductions by the Company and its competitors, and the Company's ability to invest in new technologies and to enhance its existing systems are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the impact of competitive products and pricing and alternative technological advances, the timely and successful development and market acceptance of new products and upgrades to existing products, and other risks as detailed from time to time in Diamond Multimedia's SEC filings, including its most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

Hear the best Internet audio to go at http://www.audible.com