[Logo for [Logo for [Logo for
RealNetworks] Rolling Stone] Dwango North America Corp.]
DWANGO NORTH AMERICA PARTNERS WITH ROLLING STONE TO LAUNCH ROLLING
STONE-BRANDED MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT CONTENT
COMPANY WILL OFFER POLYPHONIC RINGTONES AND MUSIC-THEMED MOBILE GAMES THROUGH
RELATIONSHIP WITH WENNER MEDIA & REALNETWORKS
SEATTLE AND NEW YORK (APRIL 5, 2004) - Dwango(R) North America Corp.
(OTCBB:DWGN), a leading developer and distributor of entertainment content and
applications for users of next generation mobile phones, today announced it has
signed an agreement with Wenner Media, the owner of flagship music publication
ROLLING STONE, to bring customers mobile media content under the Rolling Stone
brand. RealNetworks(R) (Nasdaq: RNWK), which announced a digital services
partnership with Wenner Media earlier this year, will assist Dwango in
developing the services.
Under the Rolling Stone brand, Dwango will provide high-quality consumer content
and services, including premium polyphonic ringtones and music-themed mobile
games, to mobile customers in the U.S. and Canada. The Rolling Stone Ringtones
service will enable consumers to download ringtones of the latest chart-topping
hits, from Outkast's "Hey Ya!" to popular rock classics like Led Zeppelin's
"Kashmir," to their mobile phones. Rolling Stone Ringtones will give fans the
ability to select from a diverse library of ringtones that fit their unique
tastes. Dwango anticipates that it will launch its first Rolling Stone-branded
mobile entertainment services in the second quarter.
"We're looking forward to working with Rolling Stone and RealNetworks to deliver
first-rate entertainment content that music enthusiasts can access via their
mobile phones," said Rick Hennessey, Chief Executive Officer of Dwango North
America. "By partnering with Rolling Stone, Dwango can leverage our mobile
carrier relationships, media development and extensive ringtone library to
deliver a high-quality service that differentiates our company in the rapidly
growing mobile entertainment marketplace."
"Dwango will be able to leverage one of the world's most recognizable music
brands -
Rolling Stone - to offer music fans a range of ringtones and music-themed mobile
games," said Ian Freed, vice president, Mobile Products and Services,
RealNetworks. "This agreement further underscores the growing importance that
compelling new content services are playing in the global mobile marketplace,
and ensures that mobile carriers have an expanding selection of name-brand
content to offer consumers."
ABOUT DWANGO NORTH AMERICA
Founded in 2000, Dwango North America is a wireless entertainment content
publisher with a portfolio of diverse wireless media offerings that includes
games, ringtones and other entertainment services. Dwango North America holds
exclusive technology and trademark licenses from Dwango Co. Ltd. of Japan.
Dwango North America corporate information can be found at WWW.DWANGO.COM.
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ABOUT ROLLING STONE
Profound, moving and memorable, ROLLING STONE is the voice of rock 'n roll. The
magazine focuses on all forms of social behavior and American society. The brand
is synonymous with the what, when, where and why of youth culture. ROLLING STONE
provides all the news that fits to 11.7 million readers every two weeks.
ABOUT REALNETWORKS
RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading creator of digital media services and software
including the award-winning Rhapsody Internet jukebox service and RealPlayer 10,
the first product to integrate finding, organizing, buying, playing and managing
digital audio and video in a single product. Consumers can access and experience
audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software at
http://www.real.com. Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and
enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to create and deliver
digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices.
RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located at
http://www.realnetworks.com.
CONTACTS:
Matt Graves Nicole Knowles
RealNetworks Dwango North America
415-934-2159 206.286.1440 ext. 725
MGRAVES@REAL.COM NICOLE.KNOWLES@DWANGO.COM
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