Via Dave Winer: NASDAQ is the First U.S. Stock Exchange to Facilitate Free, Universal Access to Real-time Stock Data:

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced that The NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ(r)) has launched a new service that places free real-time market data in the hands of millions of individual investors. With “NASDAQ Last Sale,” NASDAQ becomes the first U.S. stock exchange to facilitate universal, free access to real-time stock quotes — or the last quoted price — together with CNBC, Google, The Wall Street Journal Digital Network and Xignite.

“This is an important, and in many ways, overdue development in the U.S. securities markets,” stated Adena Friedman, Executive Vice President, NASDAQ OMX. “With universal access to the Internet and the real-time nature of the web, investors need real time data, and now they don’t have to pay for it, thanks to CNBC, Google, The Wall Street Journal Digital Network and Xignite.”

“This service underscores CNBC’s mission to deliver news and market data that is fast, accurate, actionable and unbiased,” said Scott Drake, Vice President, CNBC Digital. “CNBC has always provided its television audience with the best real-time market data. Previously, NASDAQ quotes had been operating under a 15 minute delay on the web. As of today, that is no longer the case. CNBC.com and CNBC mobile users will have access to real-time NASDAQ quotes, no matter what platform they use or where they are in the world.”

“Providing real-time market data on Google Finance is an important step forward in delivering useful information to our users that will help them make more informed and timely financial decisions,” said Marissa Mayer, Vice President of Search Products and User Experience at Google. “Historically, real-time financial information has been out of reach for most consumers without access to brokerage accounts or subscription fees. We are pleased to be making this information freely available to all of our users on Google Finance, and other Google search properties.”

“Our millions of users expect and receive the most insightful news and analysis across business and finance, and now they won’t have to wait for 15 or 20 minutes after the market opens to find out how news is affecting their portfolios,” said Gordon McLeod, president of The Wall Street Journal Digital Network, which will offer the new service on WSJ.com, MarketWatch.com and Barrons.com. “We’re also providing real-time pre- and post-market activity, which will allow us to immediately show, for example, how a company’s pre-market earnings announcement is affecting the stock. Offering the best real-time data available is a benefit that will enable even better decisions, both personal and professional.”