Looking for who said what in the sound world? Well there is no better place to find every audio related press release than 3DsoundSurge.!

RioPort's Ground-Breaking d2d Technology Gains Industry Support from Leading CE and Chip Companies, Including Samsung, Sanyo, SONICblue and Texas Instruments

RioPort is deploying its d2d technology, enabling the option of enjoying rental downloads ``anywhere,'' through its PulseOne Service(TM). RioPort's service already provides ``try it and buy-it'' e-commerce options to the company's e-tail partners. In addition, a ``rent-it'' option (subscription service) will launch in early 2002.

Several of the world's leading consumer electronics companies, including Samsung, Sanyo and SONICblue, plan to introduce portable playback devices featuring RioPort's advanced d2d technology in early 2002. Texas Instruments (TI) is now offering RioPort's technology with the evaluation module (EVM) for its TMS320DA150 digital signal processor (DSP), which is widely used by leading device manufacturers. Upcoming support for d2d technology on TI's EVM for the highly integrated TMS320DA250 DSP is also planned. RioPort is also in talks with the major record labels to secure their support and expects to make announcements regarding this effort shortly.

RioPort's new subscription/rental technology for devices is an extension of its d2d technology, originally introduced in April 2001. RioPort's technology works in conjunction with existing digital rights management (DRM) solutions (e.g. Microsoft Windows Media DRM) to provide support for rental music download expiration. When implemented, a device is capable of reading the usage rules that are associated with a commercial music track and will enforce those rules, whether expiration is pre-set by play count, cumulative play time or an established time-out.

``It's no secret that one of the major issues threatening future success for online music subscription services is lack of portability for rental downloads,'' said Anthony J. Schaller, senior vice president of Technology and CTO of RioPort, Inc. ``RioPort is solving this problem through advanced technology at the device level. This technology meets the requirements of both the content rights holder as well as provides consumers with much-desired music portability. We are confident that we will gain major industry support for this initiative.''

``Samsung continues striving to meet the demands of all digital music users by supporting a portable device solution which allows for music anytime, anywhere,'' said Russell Bleeker, manager of Digital Convergence Marketing for Samsung Electronics USA, Inc. ``Samsung maintains an edge within a rapidly changing digital audio landscape by continuing to partner with leading companies ready to meet the challenge. In RioPort, we have found a complete partner with solutions for the digital music industry now and for the future.''

``SANYO is a leader at supporting important digital media efforts. Working with RioPort on support for subscription downloads in the SANYO Digital Memory Audio is the natural next step,'' said Mr. Tatsuo Tanaka, general manager of the Memory Audio Project Department at SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.

``We put out the best technology so consumers can enjoy entertainment how and when they want it,'' said Ken Potashner, chairman and CEO, SONICblue and member of RioPort's board of directors. ``We are very pleased with the progress RioPort has made since we established them as a stand-alone business two years ago. We own approximately 30 percent of the company and believe they will continue to grow and become one of SONICblue's key assets.''

``RioPort has taken a major step forward for music subscriptions with its d2d technology,'' said Chris Schairbaum, marketing manager of Internet audio at TI. ``Combining d2d expiration technology with the flexibility of our programmable DSP, TI can offer our customers a leading solution allowing devices to access digital music subscriptions that meet a critical consumer requirement of portability.''

RioPort's advanced d2d technology is available now for implementation in new device designs by CE manufacturers and in audio device DSP solutions provided by chip developers. In addition, CE manufacturers already using RioPort's d2d technology can offer this new functionality to legacy device customers through a downloadable firmware upgrade.

RioPort's d2d Technology

RioPort d2d (Direct-to-Device) technology is a first-of-its-kind patent pending technology that ensures the protected delivery of digital music downloads for playback on secure, non-PC devices. The technology can be implemented with a variety of e-commerce models, including single/album commercial downloads, promotional tracks, and now, subscription or rental services. d2d content delivery can be fulfilled via a pass through device such as a PC or set top box or directly to the destination device with its own direct Internet connection, such as a home stereo with a broadband connection or a wireless-enabled mobile phone. Today, RioPort's d2d technology is used in product designs by Compaq, Nike, Nokia, Samsung, Sanyo, SONICblue and Alaris, among others.

About RioPort.com, Inc.

RioPort.com, Inc. is the leading music application service provider, enabling e-tailers and consumer electronics manufacturers with industry-standard solutions for selling music to consumers in a simple, secure manner. RioPort's distribution partners include the MTVi Group, Radio Free Virgin, House of Blues, Bolt, BestBuy.com and others. RioPort is backed by Oak Investment Partners, Vulcan Ventures, SONICblue, Microsoft Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., EMC Corp., Quantum Corp. and Macrovision Corp.

Contact:

     Faiola Davis Public Relations
     Andrea Sausedo/John Rafacz, 310/248-5454
     andrea@fdpr.com
     john@fdpr.com