RealNetworks Delivers Baseball to Mobile Phones
Sat Sep 7, 8:45 AM ET
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Far from home and wondering if Oakland's winning streak is faltering mid-inning? Why not just dial in on your cell phone for the latest baseball action.
Hoping to satisfy the urge of baseball fans eager to catch the latest score of their favorite team, RealNetworks Inc. said on Friday it has a deal with Major League Baseball to send live games to mobile phones.
The service, which will deliver live audio broadcasts of baseball games to AT&T Wireless Services Inc.'s mobile phones, essentially allows sports fans to dial into a game and listen live to any game from anywhere.
RealNetworks carries the game over the Internet, while AT&T Wireless delivers game audio over its wireless network.
The service, which is also available on compatible PDAs, also sends short text reminders of game times and can be managed through voice commands such as: "Change game -- Seattle Mariners," RealNetworks said.
RealNetworks already delivers video and audio of Major League Baseball games through its digital streaming service and software, in addition to other sports offerings such as car racing and basketball.
Major League Baseball has been particularly active in trying to boost online viewership at a time when fans faced the prospect of another baseball strike.
For its first live streamed baseball game last week, Major League Baseball attracted 30,000 viewers.
Philadelphia Phillies manager Larry Bowa, left, is restrained by Phillies coach Gary Varsho (25) and first base umpire Randy Marsh, right, after home plate umpire Lance Barksdale ejected Bowa in the second inning Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Brad C Bower)
more fun tech/phone stuff
A video handset being unveiled by Nokia in Helsinki, Finland, Friday night, Sept. 6, 2002. The world's largest cell phone maker unveiled the Nokia 3650 model, left, with a color screen and features a camera and video player with the possibility of extended memory for storage of pictures, games and other files. The new model provides users with multimedia messaging and video clips, as well as access to the Internet and e-mail services. At right is the Nokia 3510i, a more simple model with color display,multimedia messaging and Java technology for downloading games. (AP Photo/LEHTIKUVA /HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA)
Sat Sep 7, 8:45 AM ET
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Far from home and wondering if Oakland's winning streak is faltering mid-inning? Why not just dial in on your cell phone for the latest baseball action.
Hoping to satisfy the urge of baseball fans eager to catch the latest score of their favorite team, RealNetworks Inc. said on Friday it has a deal with Major League Baseball to send live games to mobile phones.
The service, which will deliver live audio broadcasts of baseball games to AT&T Wireless Services Inc.'s mobile phones, essentially allows sports fans to dial into a game and listen live to any game from anywhere.
RealNetworks carries the game over the Internet, while AT&T Wireless delivers game audio over its wireless network.
The service, which is also available on compatible PDAs, also sends short text reminders of game times and can be managed through voice commands such as: "Change game -- Seattle Mariners," RealNetworks said.
RealNetworks already delivers video and audio of Major League Baseball games through its digital streaming service and software, in addition to other sports offerings such as car racing and basketball.
Major League Baseball has been particularly active in trying to boost online viewership at a time when fans faced the prospect of another baseball strike.
For its first live streamed baseball game last week, Major League Baseball attracted 30,000 viewers.
Philadelphia Phillies manager Larry Bowa, left, is restrained by Phillies coach Gary Varsho (25) and first base umpire Randy Marsh, right, after home plate umpire Lance Barksdale ejected Bowa in the second inning Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Brad C Bower)
more fun tech/phone stuff
A video handset being unveiled by Nokia in Helsinki, Finland, Friday night, Sept. 6, 2002. The world's largest cell phone maker unveiled the Nokia 3650 model, left, with a color screen and features a camera and video player with the possibility of extended memory for storage of pictures, games and other files. The new model provides users with multimedia messaging and video clips, as well as access to the Internet and e-mail services. At right is the Nokia 3510i, a more simple model with color display,multimedia messaging and Java technology for downloading games. (AP Photo/LEHTIKUVA /HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA)
