Microsoft Corp. tonight announced at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that leading digital entertainment companies CinemaNow Inc., EMI Music and Napster LLC( will support Windows Mobile (TM) software for Portable Media Centers, indicating that the new class of device will change the way people enjoy movies, recorded television, photos and music. In addition, in his keynote address at CES, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates unveiled and demonstrated the first working Portable Media Centers from Creative Labs Inc. (a subsidiary of Creative Technology Ltd.).

"Consumers increasingly want to have their media with them wherever they are. It does you little good to have music, videos or pictures at home when the majority of time you want to use or share them is when you are away," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst for the Enderle Group. "Portable Media Centers, particularly when they are coupled with PC-based Media Centers, download services, personal video recorders and digital still/movie cameras, will change the way people acquire, use and share their multimedia experiences. As a result, Portable Media Centers are expected to be one of the hottest emerging products in the fall of 2004."

AW: The Portable Media Center website should appear here shortly.