“Users who register with Be at free.be.com will be able to
download the software for free, and Be will also work with
publishers and others to make commercial versions of BeOS 5
available through customary retail channels, the company
announced.”
“The decision to give away BeOS 5 will mean Be’s revenue for
2000 will take a major hit, because the company’s desktop OS sales
constitute around 85 percent of its revenue, Sakoman said.”
“We’re forgoing short-term revenues to pursue a bigger,
longer-term opportunity,” Sakoman said.”