Network Solutions' Registrar Offers Multilingual Domain Names for the First Time.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 2000

Network of 40 Partners in Asia Assist Network Solutions

with New Set of Customers

VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), the leading provider of Internet trust services, today announced that its Network Solutions domain name registration division began registering multilingual domain names for the first time ever today as part of the VeriSign Global Registry Service multilingual testbed (1).

The first registrations were taken on November 10, 2000 at 0000 GMT (November 9, 7:00PM EST). In addition to registering Chinese, Japanese and Korean language domain names at its Web site ( www.networksolutions.com ), Network Solutions has partnered with 40 ISPs and high tech companies in Asia. These partners have localized the process of registering multilingual domain names through use of local currency and local customer service. It is estimated that there are 47 million active Internet users in China, Korea and Japan, and the NSI Registrar expects a large portion of registrations to come directly from Asia.

"Until now, the World Wide Web wasn't really worldwide," said Jim Rutt, CEO of VeriSign's Network Solutions subsidiary. "The ability to register domain names in languages other than English is an important step in making the Web truly global."

For corporations looking to register their brand in the additional languages, to build a multilingual Web identity, or to protect their multiple trademarks, NSI's idNames(TM) division will manage brands registered as domain names in gTLDs, ccTLDs in 243 countries, and now in multilingual domain names.

Network Solutions' partners in Asia have already mounted significant operations in anticipation of customers' interest in multilingual domain names in that region. Estore in Japan, for example, has put in place a support center of 25 people solely to handle multilingual domain name requests. Network Solutions has also staffed up to handle the anticipated rush now and in the coming months.

"There has long been demand for multilingual domain names," said Doug Wolford, group general manager of Network Solutions' Web Presence Services. "The need for this service is proven by the interest we're seeing from partners and potential customers. This is meeting a very real market need and pent up demand."

To register a multilingual domain name, customers should contact one of the 40 companies listed below, visit www.networksolutions.com , or contact Network Solutions' idNames division at www.idnames.com .

China:

1st China Shanghai Ltd., Beijing Chaining Network Co. Ltd., CACN, China Infohighway.com, East.Net, HiChina Civilink, JiTong Communication Co. Ltd., and Sinonets

Hong Kong:

Chinese Domain Name Corp. Ltd., Corpmart.com Ltd., and Pacific Supernet Ltd.

Japan:

Admiral Systems Japan Inc., ASCII Corporation, CPI. Inc., Estore Corporations, Global, Inc., iSLE, Inc., NeXtWEB, Corp., RapidSite Japan, Ryukando Consulting, Sakura Internet, Solidnetworks, Inc., Sunnynet Technology and W3Lab

Korea:

Asadal Internet Co. Ltd., Blueweb, Cheil ISP, Domain1004 (Unicosnet), Hanglro.com, Hansung Technology (WHOTO), Internet Plaza, Jungbo-Net, Seoul Systems, Inc. (SSC), Seoulregister (WOOHO - T&C) and Whois

Malaysian:

AsiaEP.com

Taiwan:

United Internet Information, Inc. and Vitalic International, Inc.

The NSI Registrar announced its multilingual strategy at a press conference in Washington, D.C. on October 3, 2000. For more information, see http://www.nsol.com/news/2000/pr_20001003.html and for further information about multilingual domain name registration options visit http://www.networksolutions.com/promotions/offers/multilingual/ .

(1) The testbed's primary purpose is to contribute to the development and deployment of standards for enabling the registration and resolution of non-English character domain names on the Internet. Although the testbed will result in real domain name registrations within the .com, .net, and .org top-level domains, the external representation of names registered in the testbed may change as the standards development process progresses. VeriSign GRS's approach is to ensure current and future compliance with evolving internationalized domain name standards developed within the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and adherence to the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) principle of a single Domain Name System (DNS) root. VeriSign GRS expects that testbed registrations will become fully functional during the testbed and remain functional thereafter. The ultimate disposition of names registered during the testbed, however, is dependent upon the outcome of the standards process underway within the IETF.

The Multilingual Domain Names Testbed will be conducted in two stages: registration and resolution. The initial stage of the testbed will enable registration of multilingual domain names through the multilingual certified registrars. Resolution is the process by which a domain name is translated into an IP address, allowing Internet users to access Web sites and send email using the name. Resolution will be available at a later time and will be introduced in phases to ensure the continued stability of the more than 24 million names currently in the .com, .net and .org domains. A detailed plan regarding the phases of resolution will be released in the near future.

About VeriSign

VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) is the leading provider of trusted infrastructure services to Web sites, enterprises, electronic commerce service providers and individuals. The company's domain name, digital certificate and payment services provide the critical Web identity, authentication and transaction infrastructure that online businesses require to conduct secure e-commerce and communications. VeriSign's services are available through its Web sites ( www.verisign.com and www.netsol.com ) or through its direct sales force and reseller partners around the world.

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, potential volatility in VeriSign's stock price, uncertainty of Internet privatization, increased competition in the domain name registration business including price competition, customer acceptance of new products and services offered by the company in addition to or as enhancements of its registration services, risks associated with the company's international business, uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and fluctuations in its quarterly operating results. 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 Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on April 12, 2000, as amended, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2000.