Industry Leaders to Deliver Trust Services Platform for e-Banking,
e-Brokerage, Secure Messaging and Other High-Value Wireless e-Commerce
Applications
SAN JOSE, Calif., RSA Conference 2000, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- BellSouth
Wireless Data and VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN) today announced their intent
to join forces to develop a complete wireless public key infrastructure (PKI)
solution for secure wireless e-commerce transactions over the BellSouth
Intelligent Wireless Network(SM).
Under the proposed initiative, BellSouth Wireless Data's objective is to
use VeriSign's wireless trust services to:
-- Deliver the infrastructure necessary to authenticate businesses and
end users across the BellSouth Intelligent Wireless Network
-- Ensure privacy of communications between service providers and
mobile devices such as the RIM Interactive(TM) Pager 950
-- Provide validation of user identity and privileges for given
transactions such as stock trading, bank account transactions, and
one-click bidding or purchasing
Additionally, BellSouth Wireless Data and VeriSign intend to create a
wireless PKI "toolkit" and application programming interface (API) to support
application developers and independent software vendors in developing and
deploying a broad range of secure, trusted and innovative solutions over the
BellSouth Intelligent Wireless Network.
"This will be the year that wireless e-commerce applications explode on
the scene," said William F. Lenahan, president and CEO, BellSouth Wireless
Data. "In order to realize the promise of wireless e-commerce, the
applications must be secure and have the end user's confidence that the
transaction will not be compromised. In working with VeriSign, it is our
intent to achieve this trust by building the security infrastructure to enable
our customers and partners to deploy a broad range of e-banking, e-brokerage
and other secure applications without the cost and complexity of establishing
their own wireless PKI."
By leveraging VeriSign's open and scalable trust services for the wireless
Internet, BellSouth Wireless Data intends to deliver a range of
highly-interoperable e-commerce and secure messaging services to banks,
brokerages, insurance providers, health care companies, auction services and
e-retailers. Using these services, a brokerage company, for example, could
deliver electronic, near real-time stock trading services directly to a
customer's mobile device with end-to-end digital certificate authentication,
privacy and encryption, and the ability to ensure a paperless and
non-repudiable transaction through the use of legally valid digital
signatures.
This initiative will positively impact independent software vendors (ISVs)
and enterprises. For ISVs, the solution will create a platform to develop and
deploy a broad range of secure, trusted and innovative solutions for the
wireless market. For enterprises using VeriSign's certificate services on the
wired Web, this proposed initiative will provide these companies with an easy
way to extend that level of security into a wireless environment.
"As a leading e-commerce service provider, BellSouth Wireless Data is
demonstrating its continued ability to deliver value-added solutions to
customers," said Stratton Sclavos, president and CEO of VeriSign. "By
providing a bridge between new Internet capable wireless devices and
organizations' existing Web assets, BellSouth Wireless Data is helping
enterprises extend their existing Internet investments while delivering a new
range of services in a near real-time manner."
About BellSouth Wireless Data
BellSouth Wireless Data, L.P., headquartered in Woodbridge, N.J., is an
expert in providing proven wireless data communications solutions that
eliminate the barriers between critical information and mobile users. The
company delivers a competitive advantage and increases personal productivity
for aggressive, innovative companies and individuals leveraging communications
technologies to meet their strategic goals. BellSouth Wireless Data operates
its wireless data service throughout the United States, covering more than 93
percent of the urban business population located in 492 Metropolitan
Statistical Areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs with a total population of 200 million
people.
BellSouth Wireless Data is a subsidiary of BellSouth Corporation.
BellSouth Corporation provides telecommunications, wireless communications,
cable and digital TV, directory advertising and publishing, and Internet and
data services to nearly 36 million customers in 19 countries worldwide.
E-mail: Bellsouthwd.info@bellsouthwd.com. Web site address:
http://www.bellsouthwd.com.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN) is the leading provider of Internet trust
services -- including authentication, validation and payment -- needed by Web
sites, enterprises and e-commerce service providers to conduct trusted and
secure electronic commerce and communications over IP networks. VeriSign's
trust services for Web sites, developers and individuals are available through
http://www.verisign.com and through a growing number of ISPs and Web hosting
companies. The company's digital certificate services for enterprises and
electronic commerce service providers are available through regional account
representatives, resellers, and global affiliates.
VeriSign is a registered trademark exclusively licensed to VeriSign, Inc.
All other products and services mentioned are trademarks of their respective
companies.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not
limited to VeriSign's and BellSouth Wireless Data's ability to develop a
complete wireless PKI solution for secure wireless e-commerce transactions
over BellSouth Intelligent Wireless Network and to achieve the other
beneficial synergies described above and the future of e-commerce
applications. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are delays
in product development, technical difficulties, software bugs and errors,
competitive pressures, changes in customer requirements, failure to develop or
maintain strategic partner relationships, market acceptance of new
technologies and technological changes in the computer industry. More
information about potential factors which could affect VeriSign, see the final
prospectus for VeriSign's follow-on offering dated January 26, 1999 and
VeriSign's reports filed with the SEC. Neither BellSouth Wireless Data nor
VeriSign assumes any obligation to update the forward-looking information
contained in this press release.
SOURCE VeriSign, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.verisign.com
CONTACT:
Jeff Wenker of Edelman Public Relations
Worldwide, 650-429-2768, jeff_wenker@edelman.com, for VeriSign;
or John Kampfe of BellSouth Wireless Data, 732-602-5476
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