Companies Will Work
Together to Expand Trust and Authentication Services in .NET; VeriSign
to Integrate Microsoft .NET Technologies and Deploy Windows 2000 Servers
REDMOND, Wash., and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — July 10, 2001 -
Microsoft Corp. and VeriSign Inc., a leading provider of Internet trust
services, today announced a .NET alliance in which VeriSign will provide
authentication and security technologies support for future .NET offerings;
the adoption of Microsoft® .NET technologies into VeriSign Internet-based
trust services; and the deployment by VeriSign of the Microsoft Windows®
2000 Server operating system for its Registrar-hosted Domain Names and
Web sites.
"This alliance is good news for customers because
it combines Microsoft's expertise and pioneering efforts in the new
world of XML Web Services with the experience and leadership of VeriSign
in the delivery of Internet-based trust services," said Steve Ballmer,
CEO of Microsoft. "We are excited to be taking our relationship
with VeriSign to a new level as well as being able to enhance the security
of the services we will deliver to users."
"VeriSign and Microsoft are working together
to make the foundation for Web-based services including online transactions
more secure," said Stratton Sclavos, president and CEO of VeriSign.
"Customers will see the benefits of our joint efforts through a
set of new services that facilitate secure storage and access of consumer
and business information, online collaboration and workflow management
and e-commerce transaction processing."
Support of .NET Technologies
As part of the alliance, VeriSign will support the deployment of .NET
services currently code-named "HailStorm," including the Passport
single sign-on and authentication system as well as the "HailStorm"
notification technology. "HailStorm" is a set of user-centric
XML-based Web Services that will enable developers to build solutions
that work seamlessly with one another over the Internet to deliver a
more personalized and consistent user experience. With such services,
VeriSign customers will experience increased efficiency and ease of
use through single sign-on with Passport authentication.
Collaboration on Trust and Security Services
Microsoft and VeriSign also have agreed to collaborate on efforts to
enhance the delivery of future .NET services, providing a more secure
and trustworthy experience for users. For instance, Microsoft will support
VeriSign's server digital certificates to help verify and manage relationships
with developers of applications that use "HailStorm" services.
VeriSign's server digital certificates ensure that information sent
via smart clients stays private and confidential through the use of
high-strength encryption. The benefit for business customers will be
the delivery of the highest levels of integrity so their customers can
be certain of the authenticity of the XML services they use.
In addition, the companies will work together to
integrate VeriSign's Personal Trust Agent technology as part of Microsoft's
Passport authentication, single sign-in and secure messaging capabilities.
VeriSign's Personal Trust Agent is a customizable microclient that provides
users with an intuitive tool to manage their digital credentials and
preferences.
VeriSign Deployment of Windows 2000 Servers
Windows 2000 Servers provide Web and application development services
in a highly scalable and secure computing environment. VeriSign has
adopted Windows 2000 Servers to host more than 1 million domain name-hosted
sites for its Registrar and to host Web sites for customers of its ImageCaféTM
Web site design service, giving VeriSign the flexibility to rapidly
evolve their Web infrastructure and benefit from decreased time to market
with new and innovative software services. The companies also are exploring
other applications for Windows 2000 Servers in VeriSign's trusted Internet
infrastructure to enhance performance, scalability and reliability.
Today's alliance builds on an existing relationship
between the companies that dates back to 1996 when Microsoft and VeriSign
jointly launched the first technology to allow for the secure downloading
of software on the Web. "While our overall relationship with VeriSign
is not new, this latest alliance is evidence of how both companies remain
committed to developing and deploying cutting-edge technologies that
will enhance the experience and security of our mutual customers,"
said Sanjay Parthasarathy, vice president of .NET Platform Strategy
at Microsoft.
Microsoft .NET, Microsoft's XML-based Web Services
platform, will benefit both businesses and end users. For businesses,
it changes the way they build software and sell products, making information
technology a significant contributor to corporate success and introducing
new business models. For end users, .NET will produce unparalleled access
to a dramatically more personal, integrated computing experience. XML
Web Services are constructed using XML for data exchange to help applications,
services and devices work together. Sharing data through XML allows
them to be independent of each other while simultaneously giving them
the ability to loosely link themselves into a collaborative group that
performs a particular task.
Providing secure access to user information, facilitating
online collaboration or processing billions of dollars of e-commerce
transactions among multiple parties requires a scalable, interoperable
infrastructure. VeriSign, the Internet's first trust utility, is the
leading provider of Internet trust services with more than 225,000 server
digital certificates deployed for businesses and 3,120 enterprises using
the company's managed PKI solutions. Verisign's combined Domain Name
System (DNS) servers process more than 3.5 billion DNS queries daily.
About VeriSign
VeriSign Inc. (Nasdaq "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 Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide
leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal
and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products
and services designed to empower people through great software - any
time, any place and on any device.
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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 Dec. 31, 2000,
and its Quarterly Report on Form 10_Q for the period ended March 31,
2001. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this press release.
Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks
of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
VeriSign is a registered trademark of VeriSign
Inc.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information, press only:
Rapid Response Team:
Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, (503) 443-7070, rrt@wagged.com
VeriSign:
Cheryl Regan, (703) 948-4472, cregan@verisign.com,
Brian O'Shaughnessy, (650) 426-5270, boshaughnessy@verisign.com.
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