RealNetworks will unveil an agreement with a major European mobile operator in the week beginning 23 June 2003, in which its client and back-end server software will be used to offer video and audio services in 28 European nations via wireless networks which support data delivery. The deal represents the biggest rollout so far of multimedia services via 2.5G and 3G networks, according to RealNetworks. The name of the European operator was undisclosed, although, according to industry analysts, it may be Vodafone Group. An agreement with Vodafone would boost RealNetworks' lead over Microsoft regarding support for its media software, according to Neil Mawston, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics. The service is due to be launched by end-2003. The countries in which the service will be offered include France. Meanwhile, RealNetworks' RealOne Mobile Player featured in Nokia's Series 60 mobile phone now offers support for playback of streamed content in the 3GPP format.
