SOURCE: VeriSign, Inc.

June 15, 2007 08:29 ET

VeriSign Enables First Text Message Based Police Tip Line in the U.S.

The Boston Police Department Launches a Program That Enables Citizens to Report Crimes by Sending a Text Message

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA--(Marketwire - June 15, 2007) - With more mobile users relying on text messages to communicate everyday, the Boston Police Department is launching a first of its kind text message based tip line. The new Crime Stoppers tip line, designed by Hill Holliday and powered by VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), the leading provider of digital infrastructure for the networked world, enables Boston residents to anonymously provide information about crimes that may help police make their communities safer.

The new Crime Stoppers program allows the Boston Police Department to engage residents in a voluntary community-wide effort to reduce the number of violent crimes. Mobile users in North America currently send more than 650 million text messages each day, and according to M:Metrics, the most active texters are young adults (ages 18 - 24) with more than 70 percent sending text messages every month.

"The City of Boston is excited to introduce this new and innovative approach to the Boston Police Department's Crime Stoppers program. We are confident that the anonymity of the text function coupled with the sophisticated outreach program will inspire individuals to provide police with helpful, investigative tips," said Boston Police Commissioner, Edward Davis.

VeriSign powers the Boston Crime Stoppers text messaging platform, provisioned the C-R-I-M-E short code, and manages the system's easy-to-use user interface. Despite its back-end complexities, for citizens the system is as simple as texting the word "tip" to C-R-I-M-E (27463).

The information received will be channeled to a police department interface. The VeriSign system masks all personal identifiable information (e.g. mobile phone numbers) before sending any text messaged information to the police department. Through the interface, the Boston Police Department can immediately exchange messages with the tipster to obtain information about the crime and the details necessary to respond rapidly.

"The Boston Police Department has shown extraordinary vision by taking a rapidly growing communications trend and making it work for the benefit of their community," said Oliver Holle, Vice President of Mobile Applications, VeriSign. "Enabling secure communication is one of our core strengths at VeriSign. We are excited to be a part of such an innovative and relevant program, made possible by collaboration with Boston law enforcement and Hill Holliday."

"Hill Holliday was thrilled to work with VeriSign on a critical initiative for the City of Boston and the Boston Police Department," said Thi Linh Wernau, Hill Holliday Mobile Marketing. "We believe that mobile and wireless technology represent untapped potential for communication between various audiences. We hope that this initiative helps the critically important life-saving work of the Boston police."

About VeriSign

VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN) operates digital infrastructure services that enable and protect billions of interactions every day across the world's voice, video and data networks. 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 forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as the inability of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new products and services, and implement price increases, and customer acceptance of any new products, services, or price increases, including the price increases mentioned herein; the possibility that VeriSign's announced new products, services and price increases may not result in additional customers, profits or revenues; and increased competition. 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, 2005 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.