BeOS' Support of the Java™2 Platform and PersonalJava™ technology on 
Intel, Power PC and Personal Access Devices Broadens Customer and Developer 
Choices.

Be Incorporated (Nasdaq: BEOS), developer of BeOS®, the operating system 
designed for cross-platform, digital media applications, today announced 
their work with Sun Microsystems to incorporate the Java™2 Platform, 
Standard Edition (J2SE) and PersonalJava™ technology into BeOS. By 
enabling the Java2 platform on BeOS, Be Inc. will be further extending the 
benefits of robustness and platform choice which have long been the company's 
hallmark. Coupling BeOS' ability to manage the most demanding interactive 
applications with the device-independence of the Java platform will offer 
both customers and developers significant benefits. Leveraging PersonalJava 
technology, Be customers will now be able to choose from the thousands of 
Java platform-based applications on the market. Developers will be able to 
prototype applications on their computer of choice and run them on a wide 
range of PC or information and entertainment devices running BeOS. 

"Our strategic work with Sun is an important step for Be because it 
significantly increases the applications available to our users," said 
Jean-Louis Gasse, chairman and chief executive officer of Be, Inc. "In 
addition, PCs, handheld devices and single- or multi-purpose intelligent 
appliances will also benefit by being able to better manage highly interactive 
and content-rich applications. Our support for the Java platform will allow 
application developers to better capitalize on the multimedia strengths of 
the BeOS and create products which utilize these demanding media types and 
emerging hardware platforms." 

"Java technology's platform independence makes it an attractive and highly 
leveragable environment for any application developer," commented Jon 
Kannegaard, general manager and vice president, Software Products and 
Platforms, Sun Microsystems. "This collaboration is important because it 
allows Java technology-based applications to run on BeOS, a technology known 
for its ability to support video, audio and other high-bandwidth content. The 
combination of Java technology on BeOS could support a new wave of highly 
interactive applications and could provide a powerful marketshare ally for 
virtually every application developer." 

Availability 

The Java 2 platform and PersonalJava technology are currently being ported to 
BeOS. Beta versions of the software are expected to be available before the 
end of the year. Shipping versions are scheduled to be available in the first 
quarter of 2000.