>>I am concerned with future competition and technologies.
Don't be, there needs to be a 3rd party 'trusted source' and Verisign is that company. There isn't enough expertise or any need to reinvent standards. Moreover, VRSN's 'Strategic Relationships' form an extremely strong barrier to entry. Cisco and Microsoft are both owners of VRSN stock.
from 10-K:
"Cisco. Our technology is incorporated in Cisco's Internetwork Operating System through the use of the jointly developed Certificate Request Syntax(CRS) protocol, which enables digital certificate functionality in a variety of Cisco's networking products. As a result, IP networks utilizing Cisco network devices such as routers and firewalls support applications that rely on VeriSign digital certificates for authentication and network management. We
also engage in a variety of joint marketing efforts with Cisco. Cisco is one of our stockholders.
Microsoft. We work with Microsoft to develop, promote and distribute a variety of client-based and server-based digital certificate services and we have been designated as the preferred provider of digital certificates for Microsoft customers. Our technology has been embedded in Microsoft's Internet Explorer since version 2.0, allowing users to uniquely identify themselves to web servers and securely access information over the Internet. In addition, users can easily obtain their own digital certificate for use with Explorer by
registering on our website for our digital certificates. We also provide Secure Server digital certificates for Microsoft's Internet Information Server product. VeriSign's services can be used in conjunction with Microsoft Outlook 98 to enable the delivery of secure email in extranet applications. In addition, in September 1998, VeriSign and Microsoft announced plans for enhanced integration of our digital certificate services with Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5. The new capability offers a secure email extranet "gateway" service which will allow Exchange Server customers to issue and manage digital certificates within the global VeriSign Trust Network. VeriSign
and Microsoft also jointly promote a set of technologies and security policies for the secure authentication and distribution of software over the Internet and engage in other joint marketing activities. Microsoft is one of our stockholders.
Netscape. We work with Netscape on a variety of technology projects and joint marketing activities. Our technology has been embedded in Netscape's Navigator since version 1.1 and in Netscape's Communicator since version 4.0. We also have an agreement with Netscape that provides that Netscape feature us as a premier provider of digital certificates on the Netscape website and also provides for VeriSign to have a first right of participation for any new Netscape products incorporating digital certificate technology. Users of Netscape browsers can easily enroll for standard VeriSign digital certificates
using Netscape products. Netscape's SuiteSpot product, including versions with 128-bit encryption capabilities, can also utilize our Secure Server and Global Server digital certificates. We also support Netscape's object-signing technology, enabling software developers to digitally sign Java and JavaScript objects in order to authenticate the developer's identity and assure end users that the downloaded objects have not been tampered with or modified." |
