VeriSign, Inc.: VeriSign Expands Global Communications Footprint with a Strategic Agreement and New Suite of Global Products and Services

VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of critical infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks, announced today at 3GSM World in Cannes a suite of new and upgraded products and services designed to aid carriers worldwide in their quest to tackle the myriad issues that are obstacles to the speedy adoption of next-generation communications solutions.

Combined with Monday's announcement of a strategic agreement with BearingPoint, Inc. (NYSE: BE), one of the world's largest business consulting and systems integration firms, these moves rapidly expand VeriSign's global communications footprint.

"No industry needs to go global faster than communications," said Vernon Irvin, executive vice president of VeriSign Communication Services. "But ironically, since networks were built locally rather than globally, no industry is going global more slowly than communications. With our heritage of communications, security and Internet expertise, we have come to Cannes to tell carriers we can help them make next-generation integrated global communications real."

Yankee Group Director Phil Marshall said: "Verisign is uniquely positioned to address these demands with strong competencies in cross-network boundary management, content security and advanced network signalling capabilities."

VeriSign's specific announcements include:
-- The broadening of its short message service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS) and secure content delivery capabilities. These expanded service options will allow the exchange of data between different types of wireless networks and will seamlessly handle disparate wireless technologies, carrier networks and mobile devices to enable enterprises to mobilize their communication, collaboration and workflow application. In addition, these new services complemen VeriSign's existing capabilities in messaging security and services for wireless billing and mediation between carriers. This announcement positions VeriSign to play a major role in the secure delivery of wireless data content for entertainment and business.
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-- The expansion of its signalling network to support GSM networks operating the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) standard,which is widely used in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. This move will enable VeriSign to help carriers offer broader intenational voice and data roaming services to service providers utilising Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and/or General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) protocols in North and South America. By expanding its network,already the largest independent Signaling System 7 (SS7) network in the world, VeriSign will help its customers provide GSM subscribers with voice roaming ability while travelling internationally. Similarly, the move provides an international GPRS roaming exchange (GRX) network,which will enable carriers to offer data roaming services to subscribers travelling to and from ITU-GSM-enabled regions, such as Europe.
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-- The introduction of the Wireless Data Roaming Service (WDRS), which will promote and provide seamless roaming for carriers looking to expand their next-generation offerings. The WDRS service, designed in consultation with VeriSign's wireless carrier customers, combines existing and new technologies to create a solution that will enable carriers to make their wireless data networks interoperable. VeriSign has created a cost-effective, transaction-based solution that handles not only interoperability, but billing, network usage mediation, and clearing and settlement. Armed with WDRS, carriers can now solve a variety of data roaming problems faced by end users who want to access wireless WAN and LAN networks as they travel. These solutions will span WAN networking technologies such as CDMA 1xRTT, CDMA EV-DO, GSM-GRX,GPRX, EDGE and Wi-Fi. VeriSign enables interoperability so that users can roam from venue to venue without an interruption in service.
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-- The expansion of VeriSign's Roamer View Service (RVS) to provide visibility into Global System for Mobile Communications-Mobilem Application Part (GSM-MAP) roamer validation messages, a move that increases VeriSign's communications footprint internationally. With GSM-MAP capabilities, RVS will provide carriers the ability to monitor network activity for both types of protocols worldwide. The expansion of Roamer View underscores VeriSign's strategy to expand its capabilities on a global scale. Previously, Roamer View provided viewing of only roamer validation messages on the American National Standards Institute-41 (ANSI-41) standard, which is used solely in the Americas.
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-- A strategic agreement with BearingPoint. Via this agreement, VeriSign will deliver a next-generation billing and payments platform for the communications services industry called VeriSign global billing and payment services, VeriSign and BearingPoint will coordinate sales,support, and mplementation worldwide. The agreement brings together VeriSign's unparalleled portfolio of communications services with BearingPoint's INFONOVA(TM) convergent rating and billing platform to eliver a comprehensive, integrated billing and payments solution. VeriSign Global Billing and Payment services will meet the near-term requirements of VeriSign's wireless customers while serving as the foundation for providing advanced billing capabilities for VeriSign's expansion into new markets, including international and other service lines such as VoIP, wireline voice and data, broadband, cable, and wireless content and data.
http://www.verisign.com/corporate/news/2004/pr_200...

In a set of related announcements at the RSA Security Conference this week in an Francisco, VeriSign unveiled a series of new solutions aimed at providing a comprehensive approach to strong authentication that applies across a diverse set of users, devices and network types. This announcement is of particular relevance to carriers as it relates to solutions for mobile devices, data roaming and Wi-Fi security.

About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc., delivers critical infrastructure services that make the Internet and telecommunications networks more intelligent, reliable and secure. Every day VeriSign helps thousands of businesses and millions of consumers connect, communicate, and transact with confidence. Additional news
and information about the company is available at ttp://www.verisign.com .

Statements in this announcement other than historical data VeriSign and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others; the ability of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new services and customer acceptance of any new services; the risk that VeriSign's announced strategic relationships may not result in additional products, services, customers and revenues; increased competition and pricing pressures. 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, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

per maggiori informazioni: CONTACT: media, Leslie Rubin, +1-650-426-5363, or lrubin@verisign, or
investors, Kathleen Bare, +1-650-426-3241, or kbare@verisign.com, both of
VeriSign, Inc., Web site: http://www.verisign.com, (VRSN BE)