Sonicbox Announces First Round of Funding

Sonicbox (http://www.sonicbox.com), makers of the Web radio imBand Tuning products, announced it hasacquired its first-round of venture-capital funding from Hambrecht & QuistAsia Pacific.

Sonicbox says they're also backed by various private investors in the radio and entertainment industry.

The total investment includes several million dollars.

"Sonicbox has achieved significant market momentum with a successfulproduct trial underway, participation in Bill Gates' two recent keynoteaddresses, and plenty of consumer excitement surrounding our imBand Tuningtechnology and services," said Niko Bolas, President of Sonicbox, Inc.

" Helping to financeinnovative technologies and products such as those that Sonicbox will beoffering is a sound investment. We truly believe that Sonicbox will lead theindustry in providing Internet radio to the masses," saidLoke Wai San, Vice President of H&Q Asia Pacific.

Sonicbox makes the imBand Remote Tuner, a PC add-on that lets broadband users listen to Web radio through standard FM receivers. The company is currently running a trial of Sonicbox imBand RemoteTuners with general availability in the first quarter of 2000 for less than $50.