Business 2.0: Real Networks at a Crossroads

“Real Networks is at a crossroads. One path before it is
well-lit and paved, and the other is dark and uncharted.
Unfortunately, with its bifurcated business model, the company must
travel both roads at the same time. Two recent announcements
illustrate the two paths the company is following, so let’s
handicap the company’s odds for completing its journey
unscathed.

“First, the darkened path: Today, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser
will announce that he’s releasing another batch of source code for
Helix Producer software, one of Real’s core product suites. The
move comes a little more than a month after the company released
its first batch of source code in an attempt get out from under the
growing shadow cast by Microsoft in the streaming-media business.
With Microsoft giving away its streaming-media software, gratis, in
Windows (sound familiar, Netscape fans?), Real is turning to the
developer and partner community to encourage the creation of new
applications and markets…”

Complete
Story