VeriSign Extends International Roaming for Wireless Carriers Through WorldCell Alliance

"Interstandard Roaming" Service Manages Billing, Signaling Conversion Across Different Network Protocols; Simplifies International Roaming for Users

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA. MAY 12, 2003 -- VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of critical infrastructure services, today announced a strategic alliance with WorldCell, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary RSB Limited LLC to offer wireless carriers the ability to extend their international roaming coverage beyond the CDMA and TDMA networks common in the Americas to GSM networks prevalent throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. By allowing its wireless carrier customers to leverage the global roaming agreements of WorldCell and participating affiliates, who operate under the WorldCell RSB brand, VeriSign's new Interstandard Roaming service will make it possible for consumers to use their mobile phone number anywhere in the world no matter what type of technology is used by the home network.

"VeriSign now provides a needed advantage for carriers in the Americas who are challenged to retain international traveler customers due to limited coverage," said Terry Kremian, Executive Vice President and General Manager of VeriSign's telecommunication services division. "VeriSign's alliance with WorldCell represents a powerful value to wireless operators in the ability to access different platform services, without having to build their own."

"WorldCell's Roaming Service Bureau offers wireless operators a competitive edge by allowing them to tap into the billions of dollars being spent on global roaming each year" said Bill Watson, President and COO of WorldCell RSB. "The ultimate beneficiaries of our alliance with VeriSign will be the consumers who before now could not easily access global roaming services through their own wireless carriers."

VeriSign introduced the Interstandard Roaming service bureau this week to the members of its Pan-American Roaming Consortium (PARC) throughout Latin America. In addition to the protocol conversion gateway and interstandard mediation platform, the new service bureau also offers an option for handset fulfillment and provisioning. Domestic carriers will also have immediate access to the full complement of Interstandard Roaming service bureau components for handling roaming agreements, roamer testing, data clearing and billing conversion, financial clearing and settlement, fraud management and customer care. Carriers need only sign one master agreement in order to provide service in all the areas globally in which WorldCell participating carriers provide coverage.

VeriSign provides a comprehensive portfolio of wireless services to more than 229 carriers, including SS7 signaling, clearing and financial settlements, SMS interoperability and roaming, NetDiscoveryTM services for lawful intercept, prepaid, billing and customer care, Self-Service Set-Up automated device activation, Authenticated Code Signing for mobile applications, and a variety of network visibility, analysis and reporting solutions.

About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), 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 http://www.verisign.com

About WorldCell, Inc.
WorldCell (www.worldcell.com) is a leading wireless services company providing global voice and data services for enterprises and mobile professionals. WorldCell is based in Silver Spring, MD, USA, with domestic offices in New York, Los Angeles, Providence, and Washington DC, and international offices in Iceland, Germany, and Brazil.

For more information, contact:
VeriSign Media Relations
Penny Thomas
pthomas@verisign.com
360.493.6724

VeriSign Investor Relations
Katie Bare
kbare@verisign.com
650.961.7500
 
WorldCell
Fayth Kayser
fkayser@worldcell.com
301.960.0060 ext. 609

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, VeriSign's limited operating history under its current business structure; uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results; 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; 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, 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.