Real Networks Buys Xing
from the branching-out dept
Real Networks today announced that they’ve bought Xing who makes MP3 encoding software. Xing’s software is extremely popular, and this was a surprise to me. I think this move has more bite to it and the announcement yesterday with IBM. That was PR value, this shows they’re doing something. Now let’s see what they do with Xing.
Comments on “Real Networks Buys Xing”
Step 1: Stomp out MP3
Considering Real’s antipathy towards any format that stays resident on your hard drive, I’d say this is probably aimed more at taking Xing’s tools out of circulation (to be replaced by new, “improved” proprietary tools) than at building up RealNetworks. Though I’m sure Xing’s people will be welcome at Real, especially during round 2 of their fight with Microsoft.
Re: Step 1: Stomp out MP3
Maybe Real wants to kill Xing , but instead I hope they use the Xing technology to make RealPlayer and Real server support streaming MP3. That would be cool.
Re: Step 1: Stomp out MP3
Actually, Real partnered with Audible, a NJ company which produces small portable storage devices for storing streamed audio.
I agree that currently, Real’s main focus is on “non-storable” media, but I think this move is:
1. To hedge their bets as to the future direction of Internet media.
2. Position themselves better to address a new form of e-commerce.
Maybe there will be two Internet media standards in the future – one for capture and one for plain listening/viewing. Sort of like like VHS and BetaMax – the question is: which format will be which?