PING (http://www.ping.com) and its parent company, Karsten Manufacturing Corp., have entered into an agreement with Apple under which Apple will use the PING trademark in connection with Apple's new social music discovery feature in iTunes.  Apple introduced the iTunes PING feature at Wednesday's special event.

Founded in 1959, PING is a brand that holds more than 1,000 trademark registrations around the world, many related to golf equipment.  

"We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Apple," said John Solheim, Chairman and CEO of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation and PING.  "Like PING, Apple carries a reputation for innovation and quality.  I have always had great respect for companies that have changed and improved the ways things are done and I continue to model PING along those lines.  Apple is a truly great example of this kind of enterprise."