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NY Times: RealNetworks Seeks Music Pact with Apple Against Microsoft

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 15, 2004 - 5:04am.
New York -- The New York Times reported on Thursday that media delivery technology firm RealNetworks made an appeal to Apple Computer to join forces against Microsoft in the digital music business. RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser reportedly sent an email to Apple chairman Steve Jobs on April 9, offering a "tactical alliance" that would necessarily compel Apple to open its closely guarded music technology and service to RealNetworks. The email further "strongly hinted" that if Apple did not partner with RealNetworks, the company would seek a possible alliance with archrival Microsoft -- even as RealNetworks has a pending $1 billion antitrust suit against the company over media player software. The proposed alliance with Apple would make songs from RealNetworks' music services playable on Apple's iPod, with the player then becoming the primary device used with RealNetworks' music services. "Why is Steve afraid of opening up the iPod?" Glaser asked in an interview with The Times. "Steve is showing a high level of fear that I don't understand."
tags: Apple | Microsoft | RealNetworks | NY Times | Deal | Music Pact |