Entered into Contract with US Verisign for Number Access on Wireless Devices.
米ベリサイン社とワイヤレス端末におけるナンバーアクセスについて契約
VeriSign Simplifies Internet Navigationfor Japan s 55 Million Mobile Internet Users
Japanese Partner J-Data Begins Sales of WebNumTM Shortcuts
to Allow Users to Browse Internet Content Quickly and Easily
Mountain View, CA and Kyoto, Japan, December 11, 2001 VeriSign, Inc.
(NASDAQ: VRSN), the leading provider of digital trust services, today announced
an agreement with J-Data to enable mobile Internet users in Japan to navigate
the Internet by entering short, memorable numbers into the keypad of mobile
devices such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
J-Data Co. Ltd. will serve as VeriSign s International Gateway Partner to
promote VeriSign s WebNumTM services to Japan s 55 million mobile Internet
users. VeriSign s WebNum services enable businesses to register one- to
seven-digit numbers linked to their domain names. These “shortcuts” allow
mobile users to reach Internet sites with speed and efficiency. For example, a
user who wants to check airfares might type in “1-2-3” to reach an airline site
rather than entering an alphanumeric domain name on a handset s keypad an
exercise that can often entail 50 or more keystrokes. Without WebNum, the user
simply might not bother.
We can make it even easier for people to access the Internet using mobile
devices, and we believe VeriSign’s WebNum service will drive usage of the mobile
Internet in new ways,” said Koji Sasaki, CEO of J-Data. “The mobile Internet
market is already strong in Japan and poised to grow with new users and
applications beyond the most popular one, which is messaging.”
As part of the agreement, J-Data will immediately begin selling the full range of
WebNum services to Japanese content providers. These services and features
include: Local Logo Numbers (LLNs), which are numeric names or vanity numbers
that act as localized domain names by resolving to Internet sites in Japan; Global
Logo Numbers (GLNs), which can connect mobile users to any Web site globally;
and Every Telephone Numbers (ETNs), which match individual phone numbers to
the e-mail or Web address of the owner s choice to leverage present investments
users have made in publicizing their telephone numbers to customers.
More than 60 percent of Japan s population is currently subscribing to mobile
phone service, and our goal is to improve the mobile Internet experience for these
users,” said Tim Griswold, managing director-WebNum Services, VeriSign.
“Japan is a prime focus for our WebNum services, and we are pleased to offer
in-country sales and support through our agreement with J-Data.”
According to Forrester Research, more than half of all consumers in Japan use
mobile phones. The research firm asserts that in Japan messaging is the top data
application, ring tones and picture downloads come next, followed by news,
weather, and sports information. Accessing specialty content and mobile
commerce services is currently more difficult. VeriSign is aiming to resolve this
with its WebNum service. If consumers can type in a short numeric code to reach
their favorite news source or delivery service, they ll likely do so, which in turn
means increased user airtime and revenue for carriers.
WebNum Services combine VeriSign s digital trust services and Internet identity
expertise, offering conveniences for Internet users and branding opportunities for
enterprises. WebNum services also provide revenue opportunities for
telecommunications carriers and do not require any changes to existing
telecommunications infrastructures. As the demand for WebNum services grows,
carriers can increase their Average Revenue Per User, realize the potential for
increased up-take and usage of mobile data devices and decrease churn rates.
Interested content providers may visit www.webnum.com to check the availability
of potential WebNum Logo NumberTM shortcuts. To inquire about registering a
“shortcut” in Japan, companies should contact Atsushi Ito, mobile solution
manager of J-Data, at ito@j-data.co.jp, (Tel. +81-75-325-3343)
About J-Data
J-Data, founded in 1996, offers Internet navigation solutions to the Japanese
market. J-Data published the “Home Page Guide,” a comprehensive directory of
Japanese language Web sites beginning in 1996. These sites were accessible
through short numeric codes entered on J-Data’s Web site or through bar code
entry into Set Top Boxes provided by J-Data. Services are available for home
use, from hotel rooms and via coin operated Set Top Boxes in other
non-residential locations. For more information, see www.j-data.co.jp.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRSN) is the leading provider of digital trust services that
enable everyone, everywhere to engage in commerce and communications with
confidence. VeriSign’s digital trust services create a trusted environment through
three core offerings – Web identity, authentication and payment servicespowered
by a global infrastructure that manages more than 5 billion network
connections and transactions a day. Additional news and information about the
company is available at www.verisign.com.
Statements in this announcement other than historical data 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 forwardlooking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others,
VeriSign’s limited operating history under its current business structure, failure of
the Illuminet merger to close due to the failure to obtain regulatory or other
approvals; failure of the Illuminet stockholders to approve the merger; the risk
that the VeriSign and Illuminet businesses will not be integrated successfully and
unanticipated costs of such integration; uncertainty of future revenue and
profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results; increased
competition; risks associated with the company’s international business and risks
related to potential security breaches. 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000,
Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on October 10, 2001 and Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September
30, 2001. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this press release.
VeriSign is a registered trademark of VeriSign, Inc. Other names may be
trademarks of their respective owners.
VeriSign Contacts:
Media: Cheryl Regan, cregan@verisign.com, +1-703/948-4472
Investor Relations: Katie Ochsner, kochsner@verisign.com, +1-650/426-3512
J-Data Contacts:
Atsushi Ito, ito@j-data.co.jp, +81-75-325-3343
Kiyoshi Takata, takata@j-data.co.jp, +81-3-3512-3620
