Gemplus, Schlumberger
and Oberthur Card Systems Working with VeriSign To Offer New Solution
Mountain View, CA, May 15, 2001 - VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN),
the leading provider of Internet trust services today extended its managed
digital certificate services to enable smart card and other device manufacturers
to embed digital keys and certificates into their products. The smart
card authentication service is designed to significantly increase the
production quantities of digital certificate based smart cards and enable
quick deployment of those cards for large-scale consumer and business
applications. VeriSign is working with leading smart card producers
Gemplus, Schlumberger and Oberthur to integrate this capability into
their smart card production processes. Mobile operators, banking institutions
and other enterprises will offer an increased level of authentication
and provide confidence to smart card users, their customers, seeking
to conduct sensitive transactions from the desktop computer and beyond.
(See related release "Deutscher Sparkassen Verlag Utilizes VeriSign's
Trusted Infrastructure To Issue Digital Certificate-Enabled Smart Cards",
dated May 15, 2001.)
"Smart cards are becoming the medium of choice
for providing a single point of secure access to banking, university,
government and other applications," said Anil Pereira, senior vice
president and group general manager of VeriSign's enterprise and service
provider division. "With the growing uses of smart cards in the
marketplace, manufacturers must be able to quickly scale to meet demand.
Teaming up with Gemplus, Schlumberger and Oberthur will go a long way
toward encouraging confidence in the use of smart cards."
VeriSign enables the generation and issuance of
a large volume of digital certificates and keys for devices, making
it easier and faster to integrate digital certificates into mobile phones,
cable modems, set top boxes, as well as for standard smart card applications
such as banking, health care and national ID cards. The service allows
manufacturers to focus on their core requirements without forcing them
to master security technology, or invest in the expensive hardware infrastructure
to create their own digital certificate solution.
"To meet our varying customer demands, we must
have fast, seamless integration of digital certificates within a flexible
and scalable infrastructure," said Xavier Chanay, vice president
Mobile Communications, Schlumberger. "VeriSign's delivery of turnkey
digital certificate technology for high volume deployment meets our
need for quick time-to-market services for our customers."
"At Oberthur we are working closely with VeriSign
on WPKI issues across the globe." said Valérie Bardet, Head of
Mobile Communications at Oberthur Card Systems. "The smart card
is a key element in securing the wireless world, and by working with
the leader in trusted infrastructure services, we can together provide
Mobile Operators with a complete off-the-shelf solution for securing
their expanding mobile services."
The service integrates with various card management
systems directly or via the XKMS standard interface. VeriSign's Professional
Services Organization will provide complete integration, providing all
the software application modules, Web-based controls, consulting services,
and support needed to get large scale smart card applications up and
running quickly and easily. VeriSign's digital certificate technology
is compatible with standards set forth by the European Union.
VeriSign first made the issuance of digital certificates
in bulk available to cable modem manufacturers in July 2000. As part
of its Cable Modem Authentication Service, VeriSign generates and securely
delivers keys and certificates in batches that mirror production run
requirements of cable modem manufacturers Toshiba, 3Com and Terayon.
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 or through its direct sales force and reseller partners
around the world.
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.
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