(Applies to: RIMM BLS VRSN)
VERISIGN AND RESEARCH IN MOTION FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO DELIVER
TRUSTED TRANSACTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS OVER WIRELESS NETWORKS
Solutions to Include End-to-End Secure Messaging, Real-time Certificate
Validation and Next-Generation E-Commerce Services for RIM Wireless
Handheld Devices
SAN JOSE, Calif., RSA Conference 2000, Jan 17, 2000 /PRNewswire via
COMTEX/ -- VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of
Internet trust services, and Research In Motion Limited (TSE: RIM;
Nasdaq: RIMM), a world leader in the mobile communications market,
today announced a strategic alliance to enable individuals using
VeriSign's trust services and RIM wireless devices to conduct trusted
and secure transactions and communications over wireless networks.
As part of the alliance, RIM has named VeriSign a premier provider of
public key infrastructure (PKI) and trust services for wireless devices
and will embed VeriSign's digital certificate root keys as default root
keys in RIM's handheld security architecture. RIM's handheld security
architecture will also incorporate VeriSign's new Wireless Personal
Trust Agent to enable seamless digital certificate handling, end-to-end
digital signatures and encrypted communications over wireless networks.
Digital certificates are electronic credentials used to identify
parties on the Internet and enable secure, verifiable electronic
transactions and communications.
RIM devices are widely deployed and distributed through leading
providers including BellSouth Wireless Data, PageNet, Rogers AT&T
Wireless, American Mobile Satellite Corporation, SkyTel, RCN and Dell
Computer Corporation. The joint solutions being developed by RIM and
VeriSign will enable service providers such as BellSouth Wireless Data
to offer value-added services to a broad range of customer segments
(see related release "BellSouth to Deploy VeriSign Wireless Trust
Services," Jan. 17, 2000 at www.verisign.com). These solutions span a
broad range of applications, including authenticated transactions for
wireless banking, stock trading and consumer purchases and secure
messaging for RIM devices on the Microsoft Exchange platform.
"As businesses and individuals continue to leverage the mobility and
ubiquity of wireless networking, conducting trusted e-commerce
transactions using handheld devices is of paramount value," said Jim
Balsillie, president and co-CEO of Research In Motion. "Our agreement
with VeriSign facilitates our mission to ship wireless subscriber
devices that are e-commerce ready, creating the next generation
platform for trusted transactions and communications."
To extend secure messaging from corporate desktops through to RIM
handhelds, VeriSign will enhance its Go Secure! for Microsoft Exchange
services, providing a bridge between the millions of users on the
Exchange desktop platform and users with RIM BlackBerry(TM) handhelds.
VeriSign will also integrate its managed PKI services, real-time
certificate validation services, and forthcoming e-commerce transaction
services with the RIM handheld security architecture.
"Enabling handheld devices is a key component of our vision to provide
the trust infrastructure for wireless e-commerce," said Stratton
Sclavos, president and CEO of VeriSign. "Our partnership with RIM goes
a long way toward ensuring that today's new mobile devices, including
two-way pagers and other interactive handhelds, are primed to deliver
the platform for authenticating parties, validating transactions and
facilitating secure payments across wireless networks."
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 individuals in order 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 and 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.
About Research In Motion Research In Motion Limited is a leading
designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions
for the mobile communications market. Through development and
integration of hardware, software and services, RIM provides solutions
for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email,
messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology
also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers
in North America and around the world to enhance their products and
services with wireless connectivity. RIM's portfolio of award-winning
products includes the RIM Inter@ctive(TM) Pager 950, RIM 850 Wireless
Handheld(TM), BlackBerry(TM) wireless email solution, wireless personal
computer card adapters, embedded radio-modems and software development
tools.
Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM is listed on the
Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE:
RIM). Investors may contact investor_relations@rim.net. Customers may
contact info@rim.net. Web site: www.rim.net.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but
not limited to VeriSign's and RIM's ability to achieve the beneficial
synergies of their alliance described above. 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 RIM nor
VeriSign assumes any obligation to update the forward-looking
information contained in this press release.
VeriSign is a registered trademark exclusively licensed to VeriSign,
Inc. VeriSign OnSite service mark of VeriSign, Inc. Research In Motion,
RIM, Inter@ctive, Inter@ctive Pager, RIM 850 Wireless Handheld, and
BlackBerry are trademarks or registered trademarks of Research In
Motion Limited. All other trademarks are properties of their respective
owners.
SOURCE VeriSign, Inc.
(C) 2000 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
prnewswire.com
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CONTACT: Jeff Wenker of Edelman Public Relations Worldwide,
650-429-2768, for VeriSign; or Mark Guibert of Research In Motion,
519-888-7465, mguibert@rim.net
WEB PAGE: rsa.com
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