Keywords Protect Brands and Enable Internet Navigation
Using Identity
REDWOOD CITY, CALIF - December 6, 2001 - RealNames
Corporation, the extended naming services company, and VeriSign, Inc.
(Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of digital trust services, announced
today that VeriSign will offer RealNames Keyword technology as part
of its new VeriSign Digital Brand Management Services (see separate
press release issued today).
"Keywords are a natural complement to our VeriSign
Digital Brand Management services for Global 2000 customers because
they make it easier for a company's customers to find its brands, products
and services on the Internet," said Maigread Eichten, vice president
and business unit manager of VeriSign Digital Brand Management Services.
VeriSign Digital Brand Management Services enable
enterprises to register, recover and protect their domain names; monitor
activity around use of their brands; protect and promote their intellectual
property; and establish shortcuts for customers to quickly find a company's
products and services from wired or wireless devices.
Keywords help consumers easily find and directly
navigate to Web content using identities, such as familiar brand names
and slogans, when they are entered into the address bar of the Microsoft
Internet Explorer browser. (For example, type Toyota Camry instead of
http://www.toyota.com/camry/) Keywords provide a bridge for connecting
consumers with brands and information on the Internet, since users need
only remember simple words or phrases instead of lengthy Web addresses.
They enable users to easily locate Web pages deep within a site. Keywords
also work in most languages and character sets to meet the needs of
the 55 percent of Internet users who do not use English to navigate
the Web (source: State of the Internet Report/U.S. Internet Council
and ITTA).
In recent months many well-known companies, including
American Express, Sprint, Lands' End and AutoNation, have implemented
Keywords to enhance their Web presence.
"Our customers are increasingly looking and
finding our dealers through branded, direct Keyword access, which is
why they are now part of our online marketing mix," said Lisa Dobbs,
director of Internet development at AutoNation, Inc. For example, customers
can now type Keyword: John Elway AutoNation instead of www.autonation.com/dealers/elway
to reach the auto Web site.
In addition to simplifying Internet navigation for
users, Keywords help protect brands from cyber squatters because they
are awarded based on user expectation and cannot be resold.
"Keywords enable companies to use the same
brand identity online and off, while also protecting brands and customers
from cybersquatters who misuse established identities to hijack Web
users," said Keith Teare, CEO and founder of RealNames Corporation.
"Keywords are a perfect supplement to the services offered through
the VeriSign Digital Brand Management Services portfolio, and we're
confident their Global 2000 customers will see great value in adding
Keywords to their digital brand management."
In addition to the offering through VeriSign Digital
Brand Management Services, Keywords are available for sale through a
network of more than 50 RealNames partners.
About RealNames Corporation
RealNames Corporation, the extended naming services
company, simplifies Internet naming for the next generation Internet
with the Keyword platform.
Keywords are modern Web addresses that complement
the Domain Name System, making Internet naming and navigation easier
with simple names and brands that work in all languages and character
sets. The RealNames registration and resolution name services platform
provides a modern naming layer on top of DNS and is available to all
application developers.
The RealNames Keyword system is integrated into
the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser software. Like DNS, RealNames
Keywords and name services are available through a worldwide channel
of Registries and Registrars. Founded in 1996, RealNames is based in
Redwood City, California with offices in London, Tokyo and Seoul. For
more information, please enter Keyword: RealNames to visit our Web site.
To access the RealNames press center go to: Keyword: RealNames Press
Room
# # #
RealNames and RealNames System are either service
marks or registered service marks of RealNames Corporation.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRSN) is the leading provider
of digital trust services that enable everyone, everywhere to engage
in commerce and communications with confidence. VeriSign's digital trust
services create a trusted environment through three core offerings -
web identity, authentication and payment services - powered by a global
infrastructure that manages more than five billion network connections
and transactions a day. Additional news and information about the company
is available at www.verisign.com.
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,
VeriSign's limited operating history under its current business structure,
failure of the Illuminet merger to close due to the failure to obtain
regulatory or other approvals; failure of the Illuminet stockholders
to approve the merger; the risk that the VeriSign and Illuminet businesses
will not be integrated successfully and unanticipated costs of such
integration; uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential
fluctuations in quarterly operating results; increased competition;
risks associated with the company's international business and risks
related to potential security breaches. 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,
especially in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2000, Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on
October 10, 2001 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
ended March 31, June 30, 2001 and September 30, 2001. VeriSign undertakes
no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after
the date of this press release.
VeriSign is a registered trademark of VeriSign,
Inc. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Contact Media Relations:
Dave Berkowitz, dberkowitz@verisign.com,
650-426-4470
Investor Relations: Katie Ochsner, kochsner@verisign.com,
650-426-3512
RealNames Corporation: Katie Greene, kgreene@realnames.com,
650-486-5686
Alexander Ogilvy Public Relations (for RealNames): Monica Walsh, mwalsh@alexanderogilvy.com,
415-677-2734
Worldwide Sites
