RealNetworks swings to Q2 loss

Digital entertainment services firm RealNetworks announced a second-quarter net loss of $1.3 million Thursday despite revenues increasing to $152.6 million over $136.2 million a year earlier. RealNetworks' Technology Products and Solutions unit contributed $51.3 million in revenue, representing a 5 percent year-over-year spike--the firm said subscriptions to its ringbacks and music-on-demand services rose 38 percent over Q2 2007 totals, with intercarrier messaging volume increasing to almost 2.5 times the level of year-ago figures. In addition, Real said its casual games business, which it plans to spin off, experienced a 40 percent second-quarter revenue increase to $34.9 million. At the end of June, RealNetworks and MTV Networks finally launched their long-awaited V Cast Music with Rhapsody mobile service via Verizon Wireless--during the second quarter, online music revenues totaled $37.2 million, only a 1 percent year-over-year increase.

For more on RealNetworks' Q2 results:
- read this release

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