Wave Issue 0102 1/9/01 Article 7-03

***Be Offers Home Audio Reference Platform for Internet-enabled
Home Stereo Component
(January 8)

Be Inc. has announced the release of its Home Audio Reference
Platform (HARP) for Internet-enabled home stereo equipment.
Designed for consumer electronics companies and home stereo
component manufacturers, HARP takes advantage of Be's Internet
appliance solution, called BeIA. HARP can function as a
traditional stereo component to play CDs, tapes and LPs, but can
also be used to access and broadcast Internet-based audio and
services.

HARP uses standard audio connectors to playback on a home stereo
and can simultaneously stream different music and audio content
to any networked device in the home. With devices based on HARP,
consumers can play their existing CDs, LPs and tapes and add
available Internet-based subscription services. The device also
connects consumers with additional information about music or a
performing artist such as photographs, fan clubs and concert
dates. And, since HARP stores music digitally, consumers can
catalog and search their audio collection.

HARP's three major functions are:

· Acquire audio:
HARP can acquire audio from CDs, tapes, LPs, handheld MP3
players, and Internet sources (AIF, Wav, MP3, RealAudio, etc.).
It can stream Internet radio and Web formats. HARP links with
Internet content services to deliver audio and subscription-based
services for news and other non-music audio content.

· Organizing audio:
HARP automatically acquires and stores music tracks and related
information such as the artist's name, album title and artwork.
Consumers can search and sort based on more than one criteria at
a time - such as track name, artist, owner, genre and user-based
labels. People can customize playlists and build themed libraries
- such as jazz and hip-hop.

· Experience audio:
Consumers can use HARP to play audio content on a single device
or from multiple networked devices such as handheld MP3 payers
and CD burners. HARP lets users customize music, adding effects
such as reverb and ambience. They can also post visuals on a TV
screen or create a home karaoke device by displaying song lyrics.

The HARP design is modular, allowing device providers to choose
the components and capabilities they want to offer consumers in a
branded, differentiated home stereo component. HARP contains Be's
complete Internet appliance solution, including the BeIA Client
Platform, the BeIA Management and Administration Platform (MAP)
and BeIA Integration Services. It also includes relevant
applications and third-party plug-ins.

Once an appliance is deployed, MAP lets device providers maintain
the appliance for end users--without any end-user intervention.
Appliance providers can change, update or augment any element of
the device remotely, without user intervention, as new services
and formats come into fashion. For example, if a new audio
compression similar to MP3 becomes popular, MP3 a vendor can
enable a HARP-based device to support the new format
automatically.

HARP will be available for consumer electronics companies and
home stereo component manufacturers to develop branded devices in
Q2.

Be has also announced that in March 2000 it entered into a non-
binding memorandum of understanding with Sony Electronics. Under
the memorandum, Be has been working with Sony to provide Be's
Client Platform, a component of BeIA, the Internet appliance
solution, on Sony's e Villa Network Entertainment Center. The
parties are currently negotiating an OEM license and distribution
agreement whereby Sony is granted a license to pre-install and
distribute the BeIA Client Platform on the Sony e Villa product.

www.be.com