VeriSign and Research In Motion Form Strategic Alliance to DeliverTrusted 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 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.
CO: VeriSign, Inc.; Research In Motion Limited
ST: California
IN: CPR TLS
SU: JVN PDT
01/17/2000 08:02 EST prnewswire.com
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