First-to-Market Offering
to Establish New Standard for IM Security
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, July 16, 2001 - VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ NM:
VRSN), the world's leading provider of Internet trust services, today
announced a partnership with Bantu, Inc., the leader in secure, business-grade
instant messaging (IM) and presence technology. The companies are partnering
to integrate VeriSign's market-leading Certificate Services and Secure
Messaging technology with Bantu's IM & Presence Platform, to create
the first certificate-based IM solution for enterprises, communications
providers and governments. The combination of technologies will ensure
business IM users with one of the highest standards of user authentication
and encryption security available in the market today.
"Together, our digital certificate technology
and Bantu's Web-based IM and presence technology create a new standard
for secure instant messaging," said Mahi de Silva, VeriSign's Vice
President, Applied Trust Services. "In response to customer demand
for secure instant messaging, we found Bantu's technology platform and
architecture was a natural fit for our Secure Messaging infrastructure.
VeriSign is pleased to partner with Bantu, the leading secure and business-focused
IM solution on the market."
Bantu's IM and presence technology will integrate
VeriSign's digital certificate technology. The combined solution results
in a highly secure and private communication channel between parties.
Digital certificates are considered a critical element for the most
secure means for transacting business over the Internet today as they
provide a way to authenticate identities over the Internet and enable
secure, encrypted browser-to-server and user-to-user communications.
With this Secure Messaging solution, corporations
will be assured of market-leading user authentication protection; in
addition, the content of their instant messages will remain private
from unauthorized third parties. Millions of people already realize
these benefits by using VeriSign PKI technology in their e-business
activities. This joint solution enables these VeriSign customers to
leverage their existing PKI infrastructure with Bantu's IM.
"The enterprise market for IM is experiencing
explosive growth, and ironclad security is a top priority for organizations
seeking business-grade collaboration tools," said Bantu's President
and CEO Larry Schlang. According to IDC, corporate IM users are expected
to rocket to 181 million in 2004 from 6 million in 1999." Partnering
with the most recognized name in Internet trust services extends Bantu's
position as the leader in IM security. It enables us to offer additional
levels of security, satisfying customers' diverse security requirements."
About VeriSign:
VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ NM: VRSN) is the leading provider of trusted
infrastructure services to Web sites, enterprises, electronic commerce
service providers and individuals. The company's domain name, digital
certificate and payment services provide the critical Web identity,
authentication and transaction infrastructure that online businesses
require to conduct secure e-commerce and communications. VeriSign's
services are available through its Web site (www.verisign.com)
or through its direct sales force and reseller partners around the world.
About Bantu, Inc.:
\ban' too\ 1 : Ancient root language of the African people; 2 : Leading
provider of secure, business-grade instant messaging and presence technology
for the commercial market. Bantu is based in Washington, D.C. Its customers
and partners include Citrix, the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet
Association (CTIA), Corechange, Johns Hopkins University, SAIC, Sprint,
and SRA/Assentor. (www.bantu.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,
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. 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.
CONTACTS:
Tom Galvin, VeriSign, Inc., (650) 426- 5526, tgalvin@verisign.com
Dana Theus, Bantu, Inc., (202) 828-1310, dtheus@team.bantu.com
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