IBM and RealNetworks team up to fight MP3

NEWS IBM and RealNetworks are set to work together on a project to deliver music online. The partnership will create another format competing to become the standard for downloading audio securely over the Net. RealNetworks will provide the front end for IBM's Electronic Music Management System (EMMS). Record companies are likely to back the initiative, as it represents another threat to the current de facto standard, MP3, which is freely available and not controlled by the music industry. IBM already has the support of BMG, EMI, Sony Music, Universal Music, and Warner Music. Microsoft is also expected to launch another rival to MP3 later today, called MS Audio 4. Financial details of the IBM/RealNetworks deal were not disclosed.