The NEXT company in my ongoing series of the top 25 stocks for the NEXT 25 years is RealNetworks, Inc (NASDAQ: RNWK). This Seattle-based company has a market capitalization of $1.3 billion. RealNetworks is an early player in digital media products and in the delivery of such products. RealNetworks already has an international scope with penetration in the United States, Asia and Europe.

RealNetworks markets and develops proprietary software products that enable the creation of digital audio and video. The company sells a distributed music service called Rhapsody, which is membership based. The company also offers RadioPass, an internet radio subscription service. The RealPlayer Music Store allows for customers to purchase and download music tracks, music news and other music content, as well as digital games. RealNetworks is a soup-to-nuts service to its retail customer base.

The other strength and growing component of the business is the product suite of software and services offered to the wireless carriers, cable companies and other communications companies. They, in turn, can provide digital media content to their mobile phone customers and directly to PCs. Part of the technology set allows for video-on-demand and music-on-demand. RealNetworks sells and distributes its product and services through several third-party vendors and retailers. It also markets itself through a creative and easy to navigate web site.