VeriSign and BellSouth Wireless Data to Join Forces to Accelerate Deployment of Secure Wireless e-Commerce
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 - news) 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: www.bellsouthwd.com.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN - news) 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 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. |
