BE AND GEMPLUS TEAM TO DEFINE AND DELIVER SMART CARD-BASED FOUNDATION
FOR NEXT-GENERATION INTERNET APPLIANCES
New BeIA Software Platform to Incorporate Gemplus Smart Card Readers;
To Deliver Security and Mobility to Today's Internet Appliances
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., June 26, 2000 - Gemplus, the world's leading
provider of smart card solutions, and Be Incorporated (NASDAQ: BEOS),
the platform innovator that enables rich media and Web experiences on
Internet appliances and personal computers, today announced support
for Gemplus' GemCoreTM smart card reader technology for BeIA, Be's
software platform for Internet appliances. This implementation of an
integrated BeIA commerce solution allows any Internet appliance
vendor to easily offer smart card services to their customers. As a
result, users of these next-generation devices will be able to
seamlessly extend their Internet information or entertainment
experiences to include secure shopping.
Internet appliances represent the next technology wave of the post-PC
era and are destined to bring the richest possible Web experience to
today's savvy consumers. A recent IDC report forecasts the worldwide
Information Appliance market to grow from 11 million units and $2.4
billion in 1999 to a market of 89 million units and $17.8 billion in
2004, a compounded annual growth of 52 percent. By making smart
card technology an integral part of the foundation of the Internet
appliance's platform, the two partnering companies are helping define
support for e-commerce transactions as a critical core standard for
this rapidly emerging market.
The proliferation of electronic commerce transactions has also
spurred the need for increased security, where end-user trust has
become paramount. Smart card technology provides all of the tools
essential for consumer confidence, fraud protection and broad-based
acceptance. Leveraging the security, portability and simplicity of
the smart card, Gemplus is developing solutions and technologies that
allow today's consumers to conduct their electronic commerce
transactions with confidence. By working with Be, Gemplus is helping
to build the infrastructure for smart card-secured electronic
commerce in the new generation of Internet appliances.
"We are pleased to be working with Be to bring to the marketplace
Internet appliances that are smart card-ready," said Remy de Tonnac,
president, Gemplus Americas. "Be's innovation and proven expertise
in delivering next-generation functionality on today's Internet
appliance technology will not only propel the market forward but will
help us set the benchmark for secure, value-added e-commerce
services."
Introduced in February 2000, BeIA? is a software platform for
Internet appliances that deliver information and entertainment over
the Internet. BeIA is a device-independent platform for post-PC era
lifestyle devices focused on the personalization of multimedia and
information-rich products that enhance a user's life.
"Internet appliances are rapidly becoming an accepted companion for
both work and play," said Jean-Louis Gasse, Be's chairman and chief
executive officer. "As a leader in the smart card industry, Gemplus
will help extend the transparency of technology to include secure
e-commerce which will further the interest in these exciting new
devices. It's too early to say if this integrated technology will
become an electronic extension of one's credit card, but with
Gemplus, all the components are now in place."
ABOUT BE INCORPORATED
Founded in 1990, Be Incorporated creates software platforms that
enable rich media and web experiences on personal computers and
Internet appliances. Be's headquarters are in Menlo Park, California,
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/.
About Gemplus
Gemplus S.A. (www.gemplus.com) is the world's leading provider of
plastic and smart card-based solutions (by units sold, source:
Dataquest 1998). Gemplus sells magnetic stripe cards, memory and
microprocessor-based smart cards, smart contactless cards, electronic
tags and smart objects. The company designs and markets software,
development tools and readers. Gemplus also provides consulting,
training and personalisation services to deliver the industry's most
comprehensive and flexible card-based solutions to its developers,
distributors, partners, and customers.
With sales of over $US817 million in 1999, Gemplus employs almost
6,000 people in 16 manufacturing facilities, 7 R&D centers and 41
sales and marketing offices located in more than 30 countries around
the world. Founded in 1988, Gemplus has successfully implemented
portable and secure smart card-based solutions to simplify
applications such as public and wireless communications, financial
transactions, loyalty, transportation, education, healthcare,
identity, physical access control, pay TV, electronic commerce,
Internet security, logical access control and information technology.
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Gemplus is a registered trademark of Gemplus. Be, BeOS and BeIA are
trademarks or registered trademarks of Be Incorporated in the United
States and other countries. Other brand product names are registered
trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders. All rights
reserved.
Editor's Note: BeIA product shots can be found at
ftp://209.239.171.239/be. Enter the folder named "Product Images"
then the folder named "Screen shots."
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 and reference
platform development and release, the market for Internet appliances,
future availability and performance of BeIA and third party devices
and applications, including Internet appliances, market penetration
and market acceptance of BeIA in the Internet appliance market, and
the benefit of BeIA to OEMs and Internet appliance manufacturers.
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
for the Internet appliances market, and our ability to meet OEM
requirements and establish strategic relationships with OEMs and
Interne
t appliance manufacturers. 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.
