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WeatherBug to Be First Premier Content Provider Offering SMS Weather Alerts to Midwest Wireless Subscribers
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment 2005—September 28, 2005—VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks, today introduced VeriSign® Mobile Alerts Service, which features tailored mobile content that is delivered to mobile devices using a Short Messaging Service (SMS).
The first premium content provider contributing alerts is WeatherBug, the leading provider of weather information services in the United States, and the first service customer is Midwest Wireless, which offers weather alerts as part of a mobile alerts service that includes stocks, sports, news and horoscopes for $3.95 a month.
“The launch of the VeriSign Mobile Alerts Service will enable customers to receive timely and relevant information on their mobile devices, wherever they are, whenever they need it,” said Vernon Irvin, executive vice president and general manager, VeriSign Communications Services. “We are pleased to be working with WeatherBug and Midwest Wireless, which are playing an important role in helping evolve mobile devices into information portals.”
The VeriSign Mobile Alerts Service is a managed service that provides subscribers with up-to-date information about weather, news, sport scores, stock quotes and horoscopes. This premium content is delivered to mobile devices via a text message, sent out upon a customer’s request when information is updated or at regularly timed intervals. The service is part of the company’s Mobile Messaging Platform (MMP), which provides carriers with a single, secure architecture to deliver enterprise-wide messaging and interactions and efficiently handles diverse wireless technology and carrier integration. The platform features content and applications that enable businesses and consumers to conduct transactions and communicate using different devices and platforms.
Working with VeriSign, WeatherBug will leverage its nationwide network of 8,000 WeatherBug Tracking Stations and issue 24-hour forecasts, 3-day forecasts and live local weather conditions to Midwest Wireless subscribers. Consumers, businesses and government agencies, including the National Weather Service, depend on the WeatherBug neighborhood-level network data.
“WeatherBug is the only weather source that can provide truly live, local data at the neighborhood level. Alternative sources are based upon computer modeling from hourly airport data. Weather conditions can differ greatly in intensity, even over a few miles distance, so this precision and accuracy is important to VeriSign carrier customers and end users who often rely upon their wireless service as their ‘lifeline’ – especially during extreme weather seasons,” said Andy Jedynak, senior vice president and general manager, WeatherBug. “By joining forces, VeriSign and WeatherBug enable consumers to better plan their days.”
“The combination of wireless communications and real-time local and national weather information enables us to offer a value-added service and build customer loyalty. Offering digital content that changes as often as the weather does can improve customer satisfaction and be a competitive differentiator,” said Scott Bergs, chief operating officer for Midwest Wireless.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), operates intelligent infrastructure services
that enable and protect interactions across voice and data networks
anytime, from anywhere on multiple devices. Additional news and information
about the company is available at www.verisign.com.
About WeatherBug
WeatherBug (weatherbug.com)
ensures that individuals, schools, businesses and government agencies
receive the most precise live weather information, the most relevant
weather reports, and the earliest weather warnings to safeguard property,
lives and to plan with confidence. With 8,000 WeatherBug Tracking Stations
and over 1,000 cameras primarily based at neighborhood schools and public
safety facilities across the U.S., WeatherBug maintains the largest
exclusive weather network in the world. The live, local weather conditions
are delivered to millions of consumers via the Internet and mobile devices,
more than 100 state and local government agencies including the National
Weather Service, and to broadcast television stations, schools, and
businesses. WeatherBug’s data is unique as it is the only live, neighborhood
weather available anywhere. WeatherBug is a brand of AWS Convergence
Technologies, Inc. www.aws.com
.
Trademarks
VeriSign and other trademarks, service marks and logos are registered
or unregistered marks of VeriSign, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the
United States and in foreign countries. Copyright © 2005 VeriSign, Inc.
All rights reserved.
For More Information
VeriSign Media Relations: Lori Sinsley, lsinsley@verisign.com,
650-426-4716
VeriSign Investor Relations: Tom McCallum, tmccallum@verisign.com,
650-426-3744
WeatherBug Public Relations: Debra Eisenberg, deisenberg@weatherbug.com, 301-250-4017
Midwest Wireless Public Relations: Shelley John, shelley.john@midwestwireless.com, 507-385-2376
Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as increasing competition and pricing pressure from competing services offered at prices below our prices, the inability of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new services and the uncertainty of whether new services as provided by VeriSign will achieve market acceptance or result in any revenues. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.
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