BackWeb Introduces Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 Preview Channel

Channel for Polite Background Delivery of Internet Explorer Information and Software

SAN JOSE, Calif., (September 4, 1997) -- BackWeb Technologies today announced the availability of the Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0 Preview Channel, a channel utilizing BackWeb's push technology to deliver targeted Internet Explorer 4.0 information, content and software updates to users. The channel, which is now available for subscription, will enable BackWeb™ users who do not have Internet Explorer 4.0, to receive up-to-date software downloads and information about Microsoft's newest browser. The channel is a result of the relationship between Microsoft and BackWeb announced last March.

"The Microsoft Internet Explorer Channel from BackWeb gives us a way to quickly and easily deliver customized Internet Explorer information to BackWeb's users," said Will Poole, senior director of business development in Microsoft's Internet client and collaboration division. "It also gives BackWeb users a powerful, reliable option for downloading the new version in their idle time online."

The channel has three registration profiles for subscribers, each of which will deliver specific kinds of content tailored to the subscriber profile, utilizing BackWeb's Polite Agent™ capability which delivers content politely in the background during idle online time. For example, if subscribers register as end users or developers, they will receive updates from the Microsoft Internet Explorer web site and developers will have access to technical specifications and other developer-related information. Subscribers to the second profile, targeted to reporters and analysts, will receive Microsoft press releases. The third registration profile is for subscribers who only want to receive downloaded Microsoft Internet Explorer software and upgrades.

"The Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 Preview Channel is a great example of our ability to politely deliver real, industrial-strength software," said Eli Barkat, CEO of BackWeb Technologies. "It also illustrates some of the capabilities that BackWeb adds to Microsoft's powerful Internet Explorer platform, including polite software downloads and personalization."

CKS Group, Inc.(CKSG), an international integrated marketing services company and authorized BackWeb Solution Partner, created the Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 Preview Channel.

In March 1997, BackWeb and Microsoft announced an agreement around BackWeb's support for Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 and the Channel Definition Format (CDF). As part of the agreement, BackWeb is creating a version of its client optimized to work with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0. The BackWeb Client for Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 will use the browser's channel user interface, automated component download capability and notification features, enabling users to easily subscribe to BackWeb-based channels and receive content at the desktop. Once users have installed the BackWeb Client, BackWeb's Polite Agent will allow Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 users to receive large multimedia and software files automatically and discreetly in the background. The BackWeb Client will also take advantage of new features such as CDF, Dynamic HTML, and the CDF/XML-based software subscription capability.

About BackWeb Technologies
BackWeb Technologies is a leading offline Web software company. BackWeb extends the value of technology investments by offering mobile and remote employees offline access to portals, intranets and other Web-based applications and content. The company's products reduce network costs and improve the productivity of an increasingly mobile workforce. At the core of BackWeb's products is its patented Polite® synchronization technology that can distribute large amounts of data even over narrow bandwidth connections. BackWeb® customers include market leaders such as Boehringer Ingelheim, Centocor, Eastman Kodak, GE Healthcare, Guidant, HP, KLA Tencor, Lam Research, Pfizer and more than one hundred other companies. BackWeb also has strategic reseller alliances with software industry leaders: Plumtree, SAP and IBM. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. and Rosh Ha'ayin, Israel. For more information, visit www.backweb.com or call (800) 863-0100.

Statements in this news release, which are not purely historical, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities laws, including statements of beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of BackWeb software to allow customers to gain mobile, disconnected use of their portals and help increase field sales and field service productivity, the integration of BackWeb software with BEA products will help developers extend portal applications for offline use without changing the way they work, and the ability of the resulting applications to help field sales and service organizations realize maximum productivity, cost savings, and process acceleration gains while disconnected from the network. Actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include unforeseen technological issues related to use of the BackWeb software, deployment issues related to implementation, unforeseen software errors, competitive factors and business and expense factors that may affect the perceived efficiencies from use of BackWeb's products, and the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in BackWeb's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. BackWeb assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.