SigmaTel Processors for Digital Audio Players to Include AudibleReady

SigmaTel Processors for Digital Audio Players to Include AudibleReady Technology

    Business Editors/Technology Editors

    WAYNE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2005--Audible, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBL), the leading provider of digitally delivered spoken word audio, and SigmaTel, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGTL), the market leader in portable digital audio player technologies, have developed an integrated AudibleReady(R) Software Development Kit (SDK) using SigmaTel MP3 audio controllers. Audible and SigmaTel are bringing AudibleReady features to device manufacturers who want to easily offer the audible.com(R) Internet audio service on audio playback devices. The AudibleReady SDK supporting SigmaTel portable audio SoC products is now available directly from Audible, Inc. for licensing to device design and manufacturing firms.
    "In light of the increasing demand for portable digital devices that are compatible with Audible's Internet audio service, SigmaTel is pleased to help enable device manufacturers to easily add Audible support to their digital audio players," said Mike Wodopian, SigmaTel's senior vice president of the Portable SoC Group. "Audible's content and technology expertise complements our media processor technologies, and the results of our work together provide a more fully integrated solution for our customers."
    "Audible is excited to welcome the SigmaTel platform to the growing list of technology partners that include Audible's spoken audio feature set and access to our audio service," added Guy Story, chief scientist, Audible, Inc.
    The AudibleReady SigmaTel SDK enables manufacturers to support Audible's Internet audio service in current and future audio devices and multimedia platforms with a minimum of development. Some of the key elements of the AudibleReady SDK program include:

--	Support for secure playback of audio content in Audible's proprietary format and DRM, with the full complement of AudibleReady spoken word user experience features
--	Secure access technologies that allow automated downloads of audio directly to devices and personal computers
--	Integrated support for ACELP(R).net speech compression from VoiceAge Corporation

    The Audible Software Development Kit (SDK) enables original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of mobile audio devices, as well as Audible's original design manufacturer (ODM) and integrated circuit vendor (ICV) partners to simply and rapidly adopt Audible's technology for seamless download, transfer, and playback of the more than 60,000 hours of spoken word audio programming available for download at audible.com. The AudibleReady SDK supporting SigmaTel portable audio SoC products is now available for licensing directly from Audible Inc. Further information can be obtained by contacting Foy Sperring, senior vice president, Strategic Alliances, at fsperring@audible.com or (973) 837-2708.

    About SigmaTel:

    SigmaTel, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Austin, Texas, designs, develops, and markets proprietary, analog intensive, mixed-signal ICs for a variety of products in the consumer electronics and computing markets, including portable compressed audio players, such as MP3 players, notebook and desktop PCs, DVD players, digital televisions, and set-top boxes. SigmaTel provides complete, system-level solutions that include highly-integrated ICs, customizable firmware and software, software development tools, reference designs, and applications support. The Company's focus is on providing system-level solutions that enable customers to rapidly introduce and offer electronic products that are small, light-weight, power-efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. SigmaTel is ISO 9001:2000 certified and is committed to providing customers with high performance, quality products along with superior customer service.

    About Audible, Inc.

    Audible(R) (www.audible.com(R)) is the Internet's leading premium spoken audio source. Content from Audible is downloaded and played back on personal computers, CDs, or AudibleReady(R) computer-based mobile devices. Audible has 60,000 hours of audio programs from more than 180 content partners that include leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers, and business information providers. Audible.com is Amazon.com's and the Apple iTunes Music Store's pre-eminent provider of spoken word products for downloading or streaming via the Web. Additionally, the Company is strategically aligned with Random House, Inc. in the first-ever imprint to produce spoken word content specifically suited for digital distribution, Random House Audible. Among the Company's key business relationships are Apple Corp., Bertelsmann AG, Creative Labs, Holtzbrinck Networxs, Hewlett-Packard Company, Microsoft Corporation, palmOne, Inc., PhatNoise Inc., RealNetworks, Inc., Rio Audio, Roxio, Inc., Sony Electronics, Texas Instruments Inc., and VoiceAge Corporation.
    Audible, www.audible.com, AudibleListener, and AudibleReady are registered trademarks of Audible, Inc. and all are part of the family of Audible, Inc. trademarks.
    Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

    This press release contains information about Audible, Inc. that is not historical fact and may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements about the company. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, Audible's limited operating history, history of losses, uncertain market for its services, and its inability to license or produce compelling audio content and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

--30--BS/ny*

CONTACT: Audible, Inc. Jonathan Korzen, 973-837-2718 jkorzen@audible.com

KEYWORD: TEXAS NEW JERSEY INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS SOFTWARE INTERNET E-COMMERCE PRODUCT SOURCE: Audible, Inc. / SigmaTel, Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2005