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For more information, contact: Lisa Auslen lauslen@arpartners.com A&R Partners (650) 363-0982 x3905 Sun Microsystems Susan Struble susan.struble@eng.sun.com (408) 343-1814 In Europe: Marie-Françoise Lelong-Weinberg mflelong@beeurope.com +33-1-55-91-7736 Be Incorporated Works with Sun Microsystems to Enhance and Extend Cross-Platform Content-Rich Applications BeOS' Support of the Java(tm)2 Platform and PersonalJava(tm) technology on Intel, Power PC and Personal Access Devices Broadens Customer and Developer Choices MENLO PARK, Calif.-- Nov. 8, 1999 -- 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(tm)2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE) and PersonalJava(tm) 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 Gassée, 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. About BeOS BeOS® is an operating system designed for digital media applications and Internet appliances. It provides faster response times, greater stability and significantly higher throughput for digital media applications than traditional desktop operating systems and runs on a wide range of devices including emerging information and entertainment appliances, desktop PCs and high-performance multiprocessor workstations. BeOS offers a modular architecture, allowing vendors to easily create customized implementations, and delivers a responsive user experience and the kind of stable environment that consumers have come to expect from traditional home appliances. Be, Inc. recently began shipping Release 4.5 of the desktop version of BeOS, bringing developers and users new features and improvements that make BeOS ideal for digital media. Be Incorporated promotes BeOS through relationships with OEMs, retailers, applications developers, consumer electronics manufacturers and Internet service and content providers. About Be Incorporated Founded in 1990, Be Incorporated provides software platforms optimized for digital media on Internet appliances and personal computers. Be's headquarters are in Menlo Park, California, with offices in Paris and Tokyo. 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. Forward Looking Statements The statements contained in this Press Release that are not historical facts are ``forward-looking statements'' including without limitation statements regarding future availability and performance of third party applications, market penetration and market acceptance of BeOS, and the benefit of such products to 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 related to the continued availability of third party BeOS applications, our ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships, the competition and market acceptance of BeOS 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 prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 on July 20, 1999 (Commission File No. 333- 77855), and other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Be and BeOS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Be Incorporated in the United States and other countries. Sun, Sun Microsystems, PersonalJava and Java are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other brand product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders. All rights reserved.

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