Companies announce partnership to create digital media management system LAS VEGAS — RealNetworks Inc. on Friday plans to announce a partnership with IBM Corp. to deliver a product that makes it easier for organizations to offer digital audio and video services.The companies will combine RealNetworks’ digital media technologies with IBM’s middleware software. The combination will help organizations manage their digital assets and quickly set up digital media services such as online TV programming and mobile music services, according to RealNetworks.RealNetworks Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rob Glaser is expected to announce the product partnership with IBM in a speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Friday. The product couples RealNetworks’ new Real 10 platform with IBM’s WebSphere Digital Media Enabler, WebSphere Commerce and DB2 Content Manager, RealNetworks said. The Real 10 platform includes RealPlayer 10, RealAudio 10, RealVideo 10, Helix DRM (digital rights management) and Helix Universal Server. The Real 10 products were announced earlier this week at CES.Additionally, the publication of APIs (application programming interfaces) will allow third party applications, for example for customer support and billing systems, to connect into the RealNetworks and IBM product, according to RealNetworks.The joint RealNetworks and IBM offering is scheduled to be available worldwide in the first half of the year. Customers will be able to run the system in-house or have it hosted by IBM Global Services and RealNetworks, according to RealNetworks. Pricing information was not immediately available. Software Development