Be Announces Licensing and Distribution Agreement with Sony
MENLO PARK, Calif. — March 22, 2001 — Be Incorporated (Nasdaq:
BEOS) today announced it has signed an OEM license and distribution
agreement with Sony Electronics Inc. Under the terms of the
agreement, Sony is granted a license to include the BeIA Client
Platform in the Sony eVilla Network Entertainment Center.
Since March 2000, Be has been working with Sony under a previously
announced non-binding memorandum of understanding. Under the terms of
a Professional Services Agreement that supplements the OEM license
and distribution agreement, Be has been providing BeIA Integration
Services to Sony.
“Working with Sony has been an incredibly productive learning
experience for Be because it has allowed us to work directly with a
world-renowned consumer products company dedicated to delivering
great customer experiences,” said Lamar Potts, vice president of
sales and marketing for Be. “Sony’s eVilla Network Entertainment
Center is an innovative and unique device ideally suited to showcase
the key features of the BeIA Client Platform, namely its stability,
small memory footprint, modularity, and ability to provide a rich,
interactive, multimedia experience.”
About BeIA: The Complete IA Solution
BeIA comprises the Client Platform, Integration Services and the BeIA
Management and Administration Platform. This integrated package of
small footprint client-side software; development, customization and
device management tools and services; and key third party services
and technology, delivers a complete Internet appliance solution to
device and service providers, including consumer electronics
companies.
About the BeIA Client Platform
The Client Platform, a component BeIA, the complete IA solution, is
comprised of an integrated software package and set of development
tools that enable the creation of Internet appliances with customized
capabilities. The Client Platform provides comprehensive Web
capabilities, file browsing, a local PDF viewer, full support for USB
2.0, support for most popular printers and a robust BeIA Network
Environment. All of these building blocks come together to build a
platform that has the ability to create seamless, intuitive and
highly personalized user experiences for mass-market and vertical
applications alike.
BeIA Integration Services
The Integration Services component provides all the necessary
professional expertise and third party relationships required to
deploy a targeted end user Internet appliance.
BeIA Management and Administration Platform (MAP)
MAP is comprised of server-based software components and remote
management services that seamlessly interface to manage any
BeIA-powered Internet appliance. It includes a range of management
services such as options for connectivity, directory services to
track user information, content filtering and activity logging. It
also enables a range of useful application services such as email,
document viewing, calendar and personal information management. BeIA
MAP, in combination with the BeIA Client Platform, allows for simple
and reliable maintenance of software on Internet appliances creating
a simplified end user experience.
About Be
Founded in 1990, Be Inc. creates software solutions that enable rich
media and Web experiences on personal computers and Internet
appliances. Be’s headquarters are in Menlo Park, Calif., and its
European office is in Paris, France. It is publicly traded on the
Nasdaq National Market under the symbol BEOS. Be can be found on the
Web at http://www.be.com.
Be Incorporated Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this Press Release that are not
historical facts are “forward-looking statements” including without
limitation statements regarding plans for product development and
release, future availability and performance of BeIA and third party
devices utilizing BeIA, and the benefit of such products to
customers, device manufacturers and developers. Actual events or
results may differ materially as a result of risks facing Be
Incorporated or actual results differing from the assumptions
underlying such statements. Such risks and assumptions include, but
are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to product
development, the competition and market acceptance of BeIA, our
ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships, and our
ability to meet customer and developer demands. All forward-looking
statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the “Risk
Factors” and other cautionary statements included in Be
Incorporated’s Annual Report on For
m 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and other public filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
