Be Adds Printer Power To Internet Appliance Market

Jan. 2, 2000 -- Be Inc. today announced that its Be Internet appliance client software platform, supports the complete family of HP Deskjet printers. As a result, Internet appliances powered by the BeIA complete Internet appliance solution will have printing capabilities for all HP Deskjet 600, 800 and 900 series printers.
"Our work with HP means that people who use BeIA-supported Internet appliances will be able to choose from the full Deskjet line to print everything from online order forms to full-color photographs," said Lamar Potts, Be's vice president of sales and marketing. "Users of Internet appliances will have the same speed and superior print quality HP delivers to PC environments."

The pairing of the BeIA complete solution with HP printers allows manufacturers to make printing easy and efficient for users of Internet appliances. The drivers developed by Be, unlike standard PC printer drivers, are specifically tailored to the lower memory requirements of Internet appliances. Because of their simplicity and effectiveness, the drivers let manufacturers provide users of BeIA-based devices with the same high-quality color and black-and-white printing HP printers bring to PC systems.

"This relationship further illuminates the tremendous potential for printing and imaging technology beyond PC-centric solutions," said John Provost, Business Solutions Manager, HP Vancouver Division. "It moves us closer to the millions of people who prefer Internet appliances over PCs for entertainment, education and staying in touch. We look forward to working with industry leaders such as Be to deliver increasingly rich and engaging customer experiences."

Pricing and Availability
Drivers for HP Deskjet printers are currently available to all device manufacturers of BeIA-based appliance solutions and their customers. In addition, a developer's kit containing the HP Deskjet printer drivers for appliance printing is available free of charge through HP's developer support web site at www.hpapdk.com.

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 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 www.be.com.

Source: Be Inc.