Rhapsody Service Goes Wi-Fi

LAS VEGAS -- Now playing on TiVo, digital music players, and almost two dozen gadgets is RealNetworks' Rhapsody online music service. IRiver, Logitech, and Nokia have each announced Wi-Fi enabled devices preloaded with the Rhapsody software here at CES.

RealNetworks says its software will give wireless device owners the ability to browse Rhapsody's entire music catalog from the device, preview music tracks, and download music files that they purchase directly to their portable music player--no PC required. Device owners will also be able to access 24 of Rhapsody's streaming music channels for free through any Wi-Fi connection. Paying Rhapsody subscribers will have access to 100 music channels.

RealNetworks also says that TiVo is announcing access to Rhapsody streaming music channels through its digital video recorders. Other wired services with new Rhapsody capabilities include Logitech's Squeezebox and Transporter home audio players, plus offerings from D-Link, Hewlett-Packard, and Roku.

Some of the new Rhapsody-friendly devices are the $399 Nokia N800 Internet Tablet with built-in 802.11 wireless networking, as well as support for Bluetooth. IRiver is announcing two new Rhapsody-enhanced portable players including the Clix 2 portable media player. A new SanDisk Sansa e200series digital music player will also feature the Rhapsody service.

Competition From AOL

AOL also announced a similar initiative here to embed software developed by its Tegic Communications subsidiary. Code named SmartScreens, Tegic's software would be preinstalled on mobile Wi-Fi, cellular, and Bluetooth gadgets. SmartScreens software enables wireless mobile device makers to offer customers the ability to browse, download, and stream multimedia content without a PC. It also supports other network applications such as voice over IP (VoIP) and instant messaging.

Haier America is showing the first prototype multimedia player with SmartScreens software here at CES.

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