Press Release
QSound Labs Expands Distribution Agreement with RealNetworks
iQfx2™ will Offer Improved Audio Quality to Over 125 Million Existing RealPlayer & RealJukebox Users
Calgary, AB - May 23, 2000 -- QSound Labs, Inc.
(NASDAQ: QSND), a leading provider of enhanced Internet audio solutions,
today announced the expansion of its distribution agreement with
RealNetworks®, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNWK) with the official release of iQfx2 and
iQfx2 Plus - the Company's newest Internet 3D audio software. The expanded
agreement provides all RealPlayer®, RealPlayer Plus, RealJukebox™, and
RealJukebox Plus users with the opportunity to download iQfx2 and/or iQfx2
Plus. With more than 125 million unique registered users of RealPlayer
software, RealNetworks provides a valuable distribution channel for iQfx
software both through its Web site and through the AutoUpdate feature in
RealPlayer and RealJukebox. The suggested retail price for iQfx2 Plus is
$29.95 and it is available for download from both Real.com Accessories (www.real.com/accessories)
and QSound.com (www.qsound.com/products/iqfx2.asp).
"Our expanded distribution agreement with RealNetworks competitively
positions our products in the current marketplace and promises a greater
return moving forward," said David Gallagher, President and CEO, QSound
Labs. "We believe it reinforces the strength of our relationship with
RealNetworks as well as our position as the foremost provider of 3D audio
software products for the Internet."
iQfx2 Plus will be replacing QSound's original iQfx™ software, currently
the #1 selling product at RealNetworks' Real.com Accessories zone.
"We are very excited about today's release of iQfx2 and iQfx2 Plus," said
Dave Richards, Vice President, Consumer Products, RealNetworks, Inc. "We
look forward to continuing our relationship with QSound Labs, the market
leader in Internet audio effects."
RealPlayer has more than 125 million unique registered users worldwide and
is the gateway to the best audio and video programming on the Internet and
the Real.com Network. RealJukebox, with over 34 million unique registered
users, is the market-leading digital media jukebox software that enables
users to easily record their personal CD collections to a PC hard disk,
find and download Internet music, and manage their personal music
collections on their PCs.
About iQfx2 and iQfx2 Plus:
iQfx2 and iQfx2 Plus are new 3D audio software applications that integrate
seamlessly with RealPlayer, Real Player Plus, RealJukebox and RealJukebox
Plus. The software adds rich 3D stereo sound and improved audio quality to
streaming Internet broadcasts and MP3 files - through both headphones and
PC speakers.
iQfx2:
- Stereo to 3D
- QVerb™: Hall reverb setting
- QBass™: fully adjustable bass boost feature
- Headphone functionality
- Stereo to 3D
iQfx2 Plus:
- Mono to 3D
- QVerb™: reverb feature that allows users to choose from 3 different listening environments
- QBass™: fully adjustable bass boost feature
- QXciter™: fully adjustable treble feature
- Headphone functionality
- Maximize MP3: option that automatically adjusts to deliver the best possible MP3 listening experience
This release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Act of 1995 concerning, among other things, the anticipated
introduction of new products and future financial results, including
statements made by Mr. Gallagher. Investors are cautioned that such
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which could
cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or
industry results to differ materially from those reflected in the
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to, risks associated with the Company's ability to carry out
its business strategy and marketing plans, including availability of
sufficient resources to do so timely and cost effectively, dependence on
the performance of third parties who have agreed to market the Company's
technologies, dependence on intellectual property, uncertainties relating
to product development and commercial introduction, rapid technological
change, intense competition, system failures, virus and security
vulnerability continued growth of the Internet, general economic and
business conditions and other risks which may be detailed from time to
time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are based on the current
expectations, projections and opinions of the Company's management, and
the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of
any revisions to such forward-looking statements which may be made, for
example to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. RealNetworks, RealPlayer,
RealJukebox, and Real.com are trademarks or registered trademarks of
RealNetworks, Inc.