News on ABOV/VRSN
AboveNet and VeriSign Sign Partnership Agreement to Provide
E-Commerce Solutions for High-Bandwidth Web Sites
SAN JOSE and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28,
1999--
Leading Provider Incorporates VeriSign Offerings into
Suite of Co-Location Services
AboveNet Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:ABOV - news), the architect of a
global one-hop network, and VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN - news), the
world's leading provider of Internet trust services, today announced the
signing of a strategic partnership agreement to integrate VeriSign's trust
services with AboveNet's connectivity and co-location solutions for
high-bandwidth content sites, ISPs, and Application Service Providers.
''For the digital age to work well, all parts of the Internet must work
impeccably,'' said Anil Pereira, Vice President of Internet Services of
VeriSign. ''That's why we're excited about partnering with AboveNet. Their
business model and secure, high performance network convinced us that
they are an ideal partner for VeriSign.''
Under terms of the agreement, VeriSign and AboveNet will participate in a
variety of co-marketing activities, including a program to provide
preferred pricing for Web site digital certificates to clients co-located in
AboveNet's facilities. As part of the arrangement, AboveNet has named
VeriSign its Preferred Provider of digital certificate services and joins
VeriSign's Secure Site ISP/Web Host program as a Premier Partner.
AboveNet and VeriSign already have customers in common including
DoubleClick, Netscape, Real Networks, Cnet and Singapore Telecom.
''We're very pleased with VeriSign's commitment to the wide range of
AboveNet's clients,' said David Dembitz, Senior Vice President of Sales and
Marketing for AboveNet. ''As we offer new services that facilitate secure
commerce, we recognize the critical nature of working with best of breed
partners. VeriSign's presence and credibility are clearly superior in the
areas they serve.''
About VeriSign Website Digital Certificates
VeriSign Website digital certificates act as electronic credentials to
authenticate sites to visitors and to enable secure, encrypted transactions
and communications using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol.
VeriSign's digital certificate technology has been pre-installed into all the
major Web browsers and servers in use across the Internet today. In
addition, the company is the only digital certificate provider to be
currently granted an exception by the U.S. federal government to issue
128-bit Website certificates and the only company with 128-bit certificate
technology pre-installed into Microsoft and Netscape Web browsers.
About VeriSign, Inc.
VeriSign Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN - news) is the leading provider of
Internet-based trust services and digital certificate solutions needed by
Web sites, enterprises, electronic commerce service providers and
individuals to conduct trusted and secure electronic commerce and
communications over IP networks. VeriSign's Digital Certificate services
for Web sites and consumers are available through the Company's Web site
at www.verisign.com. The Company's Digital Certificate SM services
through regional account representatives, resellers, and VeriSign affiliates
worldwide.
About AboveNet Communications Inc.
AboveNet Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of Internet
connectivity and co-location solutions for high bandwidth and
business-critical applications. AboveNet, headquartered in San Jose, Calif.,
is the architect of the Internet Service Exchange (ISX) -- a world class
network that provides co-location services and Internet connectivity for
Content Providers, ISPs, and Application Service Providers (ASPs). The
AboveNet Global One-Hop Network is designed to deliver fast, scalable
and reliable connections to the Internet and improves the Internet
experience for all end-users. With its Tier 1 status and ISO 9002
certification, AboveNet is seeking to serve the global community of the
Internet. For more information on AboveNet and its service offering call
800/475-2733 or visit the company's Web site at above.net.
AboveNet, Internet Service Exchange, ISX and AboveNet Global One-Hop
Network are trademarks of AboveNet Communications, Inc. All other
company or brand names may be trademarks of the respective companies
with which they are associated.
The statements contained in this press release that are not purely
historical, such as statements relating to the emergence of a market for
hosted applications and the potential benefits of hosted applications, are
forward looking statements within the meaning of section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements
regarding the company's expectations, beliefs, hopes, intention or
strategies regarding the future. Factors that could cause or contribute to
such differences include risks related to AboveNet's services, including
network scalability and Internet connectivity, the ability to maintain and
increase peering relationships, and intense competition, the ability of the
providers of hosted application services to obtain and retain customers and
satisfactory levels of service, and other factors and risks discussed in the
company's registration statement on form S-1 initially filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 1999 and other reports
filed from time to time with the Securities Exchange Commission.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
AboveNet Communications
Rose Marr, 408/367-6681
rose@above.net
or
The Weber Group
Tiffany Francis, 650/463-8642
tfrancis@ca.webergroup.com
or
VeriSign, Inc.
Krista Nash/Holly Burkhart, 650/404-0900
knash@bando.com
hburkhart@bando.com |
