VeriSign, iPlanet and Gemplus to Deliver Easy-to-Deploy E-Commerce Solution for
Financial Institutions
CIBC First to Select End-to-End Identrus Enabled E-Commerce Solution for Trusted
Online Transactions
SANTA CLARA, Calf., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN -
news), the leading provider of Internet trust services, iPlanet(TM) E-Commerce
Solutions, a Sun-Netscape Alliance, and Gemplus, the world's number one provider
of smart card-based solutions, today announced their intent to provide a complete
e-commerce solution for Identrus participants. The companies also announced
today that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) is the first customer to
adopt the integrated solution, which will provide financial institutions with an Identrus
enabled technology platform that helps them to operate as trusted third parties for
issuing digital certificates to their corporate customers. Digital certificates serve as
unique, forge-proof online credentials, authenticating the identity of each individual
and identifying privileges and attributes for authorized access to private online
information.
``We are pleased to be the first to adopt this exciting initiative, which is another step
in our ongoing effort to work with industry leaders to offer our corporate customers a
secure global framework to verify the identity of their trading partners around the
world,'' said Ms. Susan Frostad, General Manager, Identrus Project Team,
Electronic Commerce, CIBC. ``By leveraging this integrated solution, we are now
able to use this e-commerce security infrastructure to certify our corporate
customers as trusted trading partners on the Internet. Once certified, these trading
partners can conclusively identify one another online, ensure their communications
are secure, and compile an indisputable record of commercial activities.''
Identrus, formed by leading financial institutions, has established the necessary
components, both technological and operational, to enable financial institutions to
leverage their unique positions as the traditional agents for commercial collaboration
to add a legal and business framework to traditional Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
Digital certificates issued by Identrus participant institutions will offer customers the
certainty they require to conduct negotiations, forge agreements and arrange for
payments in a trusted and more secure manner, merging these traditionally
separate processes.
VeriSign, iPlanet and Gemplus are teaming to provide financial institutions with
certificate-based services and software that meet with the Identrus specifications,
designed to enable financial institutions to deploy an Identrus infrastructure at less
cost and in a shorter timeframe. In addition, VeriSign, iPlanet and Gemplus are
pleased to announce a Test Drive program for the Identrus system. This is a trial
program that allows financial institutions to try-out VeriSign, iPlanet and Gemplus
technologies over the Internet with minimum effort and no cost.
``Under the Identrus program, financial institutions are the ideal providers of
identification and identity risk management in the virtual world, as they have the
experience and the infrastructure needed to facilitate trusted e-commerce,'' said
Kristin Kupres, COO of Identrus. ``We're pleased that leading technology providers
such as VeriSign, iPlanet and Gemplus, are teaming up to provide a fast, easy and
affordable way for financial institutions to quickly deploy Identrus applications and
infrastructure.''
By utilizing the Test Drive program for the Identrus system, financial institutions can
quickly and easily try out an Identrus infrastructure without implementing complex
solutions in their test labs. To help financial institutions familiarize themselves with
the Identrus framework, the Test Drive gives companies access to free trial software
over the Internet. This will enable financial institutions to test the following
components:
-- crypto-secured digital identities called Identrus Global IDs; provided
through VeriSign proven 24x7 digital certificate architecture
-- smart card-based digital signature, processed by Gemplus' GemSAFE(TM)
IS Workstation technology, which includes PKI smart cards storing user
private keys and Identrus Global IDs, smart card readers and signing
interface software
-- real-time validation of Identrus Global IDs; provided through VeriSign
validation services including real-time certificate validation
-- an iPlanet test purchasing application developed for the Test Drive,
which provides a "real life" experience using a live, Identrus enabled
service
-- Identrus Certificate Status Check; processed by the iPlanet
Trustbase(TM) Transaction Manager, which provides the implementation of
the Identrus Transaction Coordinator.
Sun's powerful servers running the Solaris(TM) Operating Environment will provide
the robust enterprise network-computing platform for the Test Drive program. Of
great importance to financial institutions, the Solaris Operating Environment delivers
the five critical requirements for Internet-based systems -- scalability, availability,
manageability, security and connectivity.
``As much as businesses rely on Identrus participants to provide them with the high
level of trust necessary for secure e-commerce to happen, financial institutions rely
on companies like us to help them simplify their PKI infrastructure deployment
process and ongoing operations,'' said Mary Anderson, vice president of enterprise
marketing for VeriSign. ``By providing financial institutions with a fast and easy way
to deploy their integrated technology platform based on Identrus systems, financial
institutions will now be able to support their customers to securely move critical
business processes on the Internet and engage in trusted Internet commerce.''
``iPlanet, Gemplus and VeriSign are all market leaders that are working with
Identrus to provide solutions for their member financial institutions,'' said Shabber
Jaffer, General Manager of Trustbase Product Group, iPlanet E-Commerce
Solutions. ``Identrus and its member financial institutions are making strides toward
a complete, easy-to-use system that meets the new economy needs of an
increasing number of worldwide financial institutions and their customers. We
expect that this new integrated technology platform will speed the adoption of
Internet-based financial transactions for financial institutions, as well as increasing
the comfort level of merchants and customers making business to business
transactions and speed the adoption of open digital marketplaces.''
Pricing and Availability
The Test Drive for the Identrus system is available free of charge. For more
information about the Test Drive for the Identrus system program, please contact
Globalid@VeriSign.com.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. 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 need to
conduct secure e-commerce and communications. VeriSign's services are available
through its websites (www.verisign.com and www.netsol.com) or through its direct
sales force and reseller partners around the world.
About iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions
iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, a Sun-Netscape Alliance, was established in March
1999 by America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL - news) and Sun Microsystems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SUNW - news) to power the next wave of the net economy through
thought leadership, technical innovation, expert services and the creation of
exceptional customer satisfaction. The iPlanet(TM) Internet Service Deployment
Platform is the industry's leading software environment designed to enable rapid
assembly and deployment of scalable Internet services. Based on best-of-breed,
open and proven technologies, the platform includes the world's #1 Messaging,
Directory, Web and Application Servers.
For more information, consult the iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions Web site at
www.iplanet.com.
Except for historical information, all of the expectations and assumptions contained
in the foregoing are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of the parties to
integrate the technologies, availability of component parts, manufacturing difficulties,
and possible delays in release of other products. For additional information regarding
these and other risks associated with the company's business refer to the
company's reports filed with the SEC.
NOTE: VeriSign is a registered trademark exclusively licensed to VeriSign, Inc.
Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun Logo, Solaris, iPlanet and The Network Is The
Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the
United States and other countries. Netscape and the Netscape N logo are
registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the U.S. and
other countries. Other Netscape logos, product names, and service names are also
trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation, which may be registered in
other countries.
Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information
constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such
forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among
others, potential volatility in VeriSign's stock price, uncertainty of Internet
privatization, increased competition in the domain name registration business
including price competition, customer acceptance of new products and services
offered by the company in addition to or as enhancements of its registration
services, risks associated with the company's international business, uncertainty of
future revenue and profitability and fluctuations in its quarterly operating results.
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 Registration Statement on
Form S-4 filed on April 12, 2000, as amended, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period
ended June 30, 2000. |
