Microware Announces the Only Complete Java Solution for Wireless Devices and Internet Appliances.

Business Editors & Technology Writers

DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2000

Microware's Implementation of PersonalJava(TM) Solutions 3.0.1

for OS-9(R) Comes with Power Management, Full Plug-In Support

Microware Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: MWAR), a leading provider of embedded software solutions, has released the next generation of its PersonalJava(TM) Solutions for OS-9(R) for cellular and smart handheld devices, Digital TV, and Internet appliances. PersonalJava 3.0.1 provides the same reliable, high-performance Java platform as previous versions, but with the following significant enhancements:

-- Faster execution

-- Smaller footprint

-- Multi-windows support

-- Java Profiler Interface (JVM PI) - allows tools to interface

with Java and evaluate the performance of Java applications

remotely

Microware's implementation of PersonalJava comes with OS-9, Microware's fully featured, stable real-time operating system (RTOS) that includes built-in power management and full plug-in support.

"Microware has already helped companies like Motorola, Nortel, @pos.com and Hong Kong Telecom IMS create products like cellular telephones, digital pagers, set top boxes, Internet appliances, and point of sale terminals," said Ken Kaplan, president and CEO of Microware. "Microware is the only embedded software company to offer a reliable, complete Java Virtual Machine. Microware has over 250,000 Java units deployed in the embedded space, and additional units are being deployed all the time. Microware has had an effective working Java solution for over two years."

Microware recently licensed PersonalJava(TM)Solutions for OS-9(R)to NXTV, Inc. and Avenue Communications.

"Microware has been a Sun partner since late 1995 and was the first embedded software company to license Java technology from Sun Microsystems," stated Kaplan. "This gave us a head start we maintain to this day." Pointbase and other third party vendors are working with Microware, as well.

Microware's PersonalJava runtime environment was developed from the ground up to provide an efficient implementation of the Java Virtual Machine resulting in a small memory footprint. It is a key component in Microware's compliance with the set of API's, standards, and protocols set by Sun Microsystems' Java2, Micro Edition (J2ME).

"We've always had the fastest embedded JVM," said Alan Anderson, Microware's director of Java technology. "With this new PersonalJava release our already impressive Caffeine Mark scores have jumped up another 15 percent. Developers can now use the minimal set of classes as defined in the PersonalJava Specification, or easily include the optional classes found in the specification."

"All JVMs are not the same," said Peter Dibble, senior scientist at Microware. "Some JVMs suffer from defective garbage collection, memory leaks or crude thread scheduling. Our JVM is implemented and tested to operating system standards. We built it as a component for embedded systems, and our customers use it that way. Several of Microware's Java customers have recently switched to Microware's PersonalJava after their long, painful experience with competitors."

Because of the unique design of OS-9, developers can download Java classes from a central spot to these devices and also create plug-ins in C, C++, or assembly languages that can be downloaded to the device through the wired or wireless networks. "It makes sense that some plug-ins are written in C or assembly. This allows developers to dramatically reduce costs, and more important, shrink development cycles as additional third party content and features are added to the device after deployment from the server," Anderson said.

Power management has been a part of OS-9 since 1997 and has been continually refined and upgraded since then. PersonalJava was designed to participate in a power-aware system.

"Microsoft Windows(R) CE is the only other RTOS on the market with any built-in consideration for power management, and it has only a small fraction of the functionality and capabilities of the power management functions of OS-9," said Kaplan. "Microware's OS-9 RTOS allows developers to quickly create extremely efficient devices with minimal effort."

"These technologies represent the future of embedded devices and the Internet," said Kaplan. "Having an entire development solution - a reliable OS, integrated graphics, networking support, PersonalJava, and power management, all on one CD - is a huge advantage for our customers. The competition in this market is fierce, and time to market is critical. The new features of OS-9 provide the edge developers need to get to market first. Cahners In-Stat Group predicts nearly 24 million wireless users by 2003. This market is set to explode, and Microware is perfectly positioned to take it by storm."

As the J2ME continues to transition to the Connected Device Configuration (CDC) and Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC), Microware will continue development of the PersonalJava and KJava environments with JINI and MIDp technologies. Plans are also underway to include WAP in Microware's wireless solutions suite.

Note to Editors: Microware will be exhibiting at the Java One Developers Conference June 6-9 in San Francisco, CA. To set up an interview, please contact Haley Marconett at [phone].

About Microware Systems Corporation

Microware Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: MWAR) provides embedded software solutions for successful products. The solutions include development tools such as integrated development environments (IDE), consulting and support services, and software components such as the OS-9(R) real-time operating system. Microware software is used in telecommunications and data communications, industrial automation, office automation, consumer electronics, automotive control, and other markets worldwide, representing many of the fastest-growing areas in technology. Founded in 1977, Microware is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. For more information, visit www.microware.com, send e-mail to [e-mail], or call 1-800-475-9000 or 515-223-8000.

Cautionary note: This press release may contain certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or future business performance. Any such statements that refer to Microware's estimated or anticipated future results, product performance or other non-historical facts are forward looking and reflect Microware's current perspective of existing trends and information. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified, and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the historical volatility in the Company's quarterly performance; growth of markets at which the Company's products are targeted; the Company's dependence on its strategic customers' successful deployment, marketing, and sales of new products targeted at those markets; and other factors detailed in the Company's history of past losses and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements speak as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements in light of future events or otherwise.

Microware, the Microware logo, and OS-9 are registered trademarks of Microware Systems Corporation.

All other company and product names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.