Global eXchange Services and VeriSign Announce Partnership to Enhance GXS Trading Grid with Electronic Product Codes

Global eXchange Services and VeriSign Announce Partnership to Enhance GXS Trading Grid with Electronic Product Codes

Integration to Provide Real-time Supply Chain Visibility and Enhanced Track and Trace Capabilities

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and GAITHERSBURG, Md., Nov. 30
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks, and Global eXchange Services (GXS), a leading provider of business- to-business (B2B) integration services, today announced a partnership that extends the GXS Trading Grid(SM) to support the use of Electronic Product Codes (EPC) and integration with the EPCglobal Network. The EPC is the next generation of product identification that was uniquely designed and built to allow companies to share dynamic product information over a distributed network infrastructure.

The agreement will assist GXS to enhance the Trading Grid with Object Naming Services (ONS) from VeriSign, the exclusive provider of ONS services to EPCglobal. The ONS is a key component of the EPCglobal Network that helps companies quickly discover information such as the condition and location of products that move in a globally distributed supply chain. Access to this information assists manufacturers and retailers to improve their execution of high value processes that impact operating performance and customer relationships.

"With the emergence of RFID and EPC technology as a new standard in tracking key inventory, we have strategically aligned our Trading Grid services with a capable partner to deliver the best product for our customers," said Bobby Patrick, senior vice president of marketing at GXS. "VeriSign's leadership in the provisioning of EPC infrastructure and proven ability to deliver highly reliable services on a massive scale are a perfect match for the Trading Grid and we are truly excited to be working together to make the EPCglobal Network more accessible to our customers."

As companies increasingly pursue real-time inventory visibility and government agencies require product traceability, highly accessible reference information is critical to business processes. Containing product information for more than 60 million items as well as shipment order, and invoice information for millions of transactions annually, the GXS Trading Grid is positioned to leverage the EPCglobal Network's ability to track RFID tagged items. Integrating ONS into the Trading Grid will help enhance the ability of hosted applications to locate and utilize product information that is distributed across trading partner systems.

"GXS is a recognized leader in B2B information exchange and VeriSign is pleased to be supporting integration to the EPCglobal Network through the GXS Trading Grid," said Brian Matthews, vice president of directory services at VeriSign. "The power of the EPCglobal Network depends on each company's ability to access information linked to EPCs, and our work with GXS will help enable this access for their customers."

Long known for its role in operating the critical infrastructure underlying the Domain Name System (DNS), telecommunications networks, and security and payment networks, VeriSign is leveraging its expertise in support of the EPCglobal Network and RFID infrastructure. In addition to operating the root server for the Object Naming Service (ONS) of the EPCglobal Network, VeriSign is also providing managed services to help companies explore the network without requiring extensive investments as standards evolve.

About VeriSign

VeriSign, Inc., delivers intelligent 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 http://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 forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, (1) the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as the risk that VeriSign's announced strategic relationships, including the relationships described herein, may not result in additional products, services, customers, profits or revenues; (2) increased competition and pricing pressures; (3) the uncertainty as to the ability of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new products and services and customer acceptance of any new products or services, including VeriSign's new services described herein; and (4) the possibility that VeriSign's announced new services may not result in additional customers, profits or revenues. 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, 2003 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.

TRADEMARKS

VeriSign, and other trademarks, service marks, and logos are registered or unregistered trademarks of VeriSign and its subsidiaries in the United States and in foreign countries.

About Global eXchange Services

Global eXchange Services (GXS) is a leading provider of B2B e-commerce solutions that simplify and enhance business process integration and collaboration. Organizations worldwide, including over half of the Fortune 500, leverage GXS' global interoperability and supply chain execution solutions to achieve the perfect balance of supply and demand. Active in the global standards arena, GXS solutions, powered by the Trading Grid(SM), enable customers both large and small, to connect with global partners, synchronize product information and optimize the execution of supply chains. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., GXS provides sales and support to businesses and their partners worldwide. For more information about GXS visit http://www.gxs.com/ .

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory factors. These factors include technological developments, customer demand, trading partner participation and network availability.

NOTE: All products and services mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies.


Source: VeriSign, Inc.

CONTACT: Patrick Burns, Media Relations, +1-703-948-4471, or
pburns@verisign.com, Tom McCallum, Investor Relations, +1-650-426-3744, or
tmccallum@verisign.com, both of VeriSign; or media, Jessica Ashapa,
+1-617-585-2215, or jashapa@fitzgerald.com, for GXS; or Larry De'Ath of GXS,
+1-301-340-4519, or Larry.DeAth@gxs.com

Web site: http://www.gxs.com/

Web site: http://www.verisign.com/


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