Darwin Networks Selected By Bedford Property Investors To Connect 100 Commercial Properties To The Internet.

Business Editors

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 5, 2000

Darwin Networks, a leading provider of high-speed Internet access and network solutions, was recently selected to provide Internet access and wide-area networking (WAN) solutions for approximately 100 commercial office properties owned and operated by Bedford Property Investors, Inc. (NYSE: BED).

Bedford Property Investors, a self-administered equity real estate investment trust, owns, manages, acquires and develops industrial and suburban office properties proximate to metropolitan areas primarily in northern and southern California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Texas and Kansas.

Within the next 40 days, Darwin Networks will begin deploying services to the Bedford properties, connecting them via its proven point-to-point, fixed wireless technology. This technology enables the company to inexpensively bridge the "last mile" to its customers by beaming Internet access between buildings within sight of each other, instead of relying on local telephone company wires to connect customers to Darwin Networks' private, high-speed nationwide network. This means each Bedford client will now have access to cost-effective, dependable and secure WAN solutions and high-speed Internet access.

"Darwin Networks distinguished themselves by their willingness to quickly deploy to all of our properties regardless of location or number of tenants," said James R. Moore, Bedford Property's chief operating officer.

Within the commercial market, Darwin Networks concentrates on small and mid-sized enterprises that need the same high-speed connectivity as larger organizations, but don't have the resources to secure dedicated fiber optic connections. For the nation's millions of small to mid-sized businesses, Darwin Networks offers fixed wireless, wireline (e.g. DSL, T1) and even satellite-based solutions as economical alternatives.

"We expect our fixed wireless service to be popular with Bedford Property's small and medium-sized business customers because of the speed, quality of service and security we offer," said Joel Coleman, president of Darwin Networks' Commercial Division.

About Darwin Networks:

Darwin Networks provides high speed Internet access and network solutions to small and medium-sized businesses; office, flex, industrial and retail properties; apartment, condominium and student housing complexes; hotels and telephone companies; using various wireless and wireline technologies. The company has agreements in place and in progress to launch services in approximately 1,200 locations in over 40 states and Canada. The Louisville, Kentucky-based company offers a full complement of marketing and support services, including training, to assist business owners, property managers and their staffs in marketing and implementing these new services.

Additionally, Darwin is the nation's premier provider of public Internet access kiosks. To date, the company has installed hundreds of units throughout the country, in hotels, restaurants, tourist/travel centers, cafes, airports, and more. The company also produces, installs and operates multimedia kiosks designed for retail/eCommerce, interactive information distribution, communications, entertainment, advertising and other uses.

Darwin Networks has corporate offices in Louisville, KY, Seattle, WA and Boston, MA, Walnut Creek and San Diego, CA. The company's investors include Broadband Solutions, LLC (led by Chrysalis Ventures, LLC), Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures, Richland Ventures, River Cities Capital and associates of Moore Capital. For more information about Darwin Networks, please visit www.darwin.net.

About Bedford Property, Inc.:

Bedford Property Investors, Inc., is led by a professional management team who have on average over 20 years of experience in the ownership, management, acquisition and development of industrial and suburban office properties in the Western United States.

The Company's strategy is to operate in suburban markets that are experiencing, or are expected to experience, superior economic growth and to seek markets that are subject to limitations on the development of similar properties. The Company believes that employment growth is a reliable indicator of future demand for both industrial and suburban office space.