At E3, the two unveiled plans to embed RealPlayer 8 and other RealNetworks client technologies on Sony's PlayStation 2 game console. On Tuesday the companies went a step further and revealed plans to embed RealPlayer 8 on a new Sony product -- the e Villa Network Entertainment Center.

e Villa, which Sony plans to ship later this month at a $500 price point, is a Net appliance for accessing Internet media, e-mail and the Web. Under the agreement, the e Villa user interface will include an on-screen preset button for the Real.com Guide, offering one-click access to the site, which offers consumers a way to navigate music and other entertainment programming on the Web. The e Villa will also utilize RealNetworks' Real.com Radio Tuner, providing access to more than 2,500 radio stations broadcasting on the Net.

"The combination of our leading RealPlayer technology and the ease-of-use of the e Villa unit will deliver a high quality multimedia experience to this burgeoning market," said Mark Bretl, vice president of Consumer Appliances for RealNetworks. "This device represents a new class of consumer appliances designed for the home and we are excited to leverage this growth opportunity as we realize our vision of delivering a great Internet media experience from any platform, to any device."