Registrations in the
Internationalized Domain Name Testbed Can Now Resolve to Web Sites
Mountain View, California, May 2, 2001 - VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:
VRSN), the leading provider of Internet trust services, today announced
that domain names registered in the Internationalized Domain Name (IDN)
Testbed are now capable of being used by registrants to direct users
to the Web site of their choice. This added functionality is the result
of progression of the resolution stage of the testbed. An internationalized
domain name (also referred to as a multilingual domain name) is a domain
name represented by characters from a language other than English.
"Today's announcement is a major step towards
more widespread adoption of internationalized domain names," said
Herb Hribar, executive vice president and general manager of VeriSign
Global Registry Services. "We appreciate the contribution that
registrants have made to our IDN Testbed, and are pleased by the added
functionality its progress has created."
The resolution stage of the Internationalized Domain
Name Testbed is being conducted in three phases. The current second
phase of resolution makes the registrations accessible through the controlled,
second-level domains, mltbd.com, mltbd.net, and mltbd.org. During the third phase of resolution, internationalized
domain names will be introduced into the production name servers for
the .com, .net, and .org top-level
domains. Gradual implementation of resolution is intended to preserve
the continued stability of the more than 30 million .com, .net, and .org names currently managed by VeriSign.
Because the Internet Domain Name System cannot interpret
non-English characters, a piece of software, called an IDN client, is required in most Web browsers to convert native
character input into an ASCII Compatible Encoding (ACE) representation.
While IDN-enabled browsers are emerging, most Internet users wishing
to reach a Web site with an IP address represented by an internationalized
domain name will need an IDN client installed on his or her computer.
VeriSign has made two such clients available on its Web site (http://www.verisign-grs.com/idn/client/),
both of which have been tested and determined to be compatible with
the testbed. In the future, additional Web browsers may become IDN-enabled,
thus eliminating the need for an add-on client to transform the end-user's
native character input into the ACE format. More information about IDN
clients and their role in the resolution process is available from the
VeriSign Global Registry Services Web site: (http://www.verisign-grs.com/idn/client/usingIDNClients.pdf).
Additionally, VeriSign continues to evaluate other emerging technology
solutions to address IDN functionality.
To date, over 920,000 names have been registered
in the Internationalized Domain Name Testbed. Registrations in the testbed
continue to be made through the active ICANN-accredited registrars who
have passed the internationalized domain name certification. A list
of registrars who are certified in the testbed can be found at the VeriSign
Global Registry Services Web site (http://www.verisign-grs.com/idn/customer.html).
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 VeriSign GRS
VeriSign GRS is the Internet's leading provider of registry services
and Domain Name System (DNS) support. As the exclusive provider of registry
services for the .com, .net, and .org top-level domains (TLD), VeriSign
GRS supports over 80 domain name registrars and maintains the infrastructure
that responds to over 1.5 billion domain name look-ups daily.
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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