VeriSign Releases Third Quarter Domain Name Industry Brief

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, Dec 04, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- VeriSign, Inc. (VRSN:

19.65, 0.00, 0.0%) , the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world, today released the Domain Name Industry Brief for the third quarter of 2008, highlighting the continued growth of the Internet globally.

The key findings contained in the report include:

--  There were 174 million domain name registrations across all of the Top Level Domain Names (TLDs) at the end of the third quarter of 2008. This represents a three percent growth over the second quarter of 2008 and a 19 percent growth over the same quarter last year;

--  The base of Country Code Top Level Domain Names (ccTLDs) totaled 68.9 million domain names, a five percent increase quarter over quarter and a 26 percent increase year over year;

--  Among the top ten largest ccTLDs, there were several changes as .br (Brazil) climbed up to the eighth position and .au (Australia) joined the top ten for the first time, displacing .ch (Switzerland);

--  Among the top 25 largest ccTLDs, four (.eu (European Union), .kr (South Korea), .sp (Spain) and .tv (Tuvalu)) stand-out due to a larger quarterly growth rate vs. the performance in the second quarter. The remaining ccTLDs experienced growth rates that were flat or slowing when compared to their growth rates in second quarter.

The report also reveals some interesting statistics around the popularity of online video and the resulting popularity of the .tv TLD.

"In every country, people associate 'TV' with the kind of entertainment and information that users usually get from television," said Jill McNabb, Vice President, Naming Services, VeriSign. "Web sites with a .tv domain name address provide the ideal destination for an emerging, next-generation Internet experience."

The complete contents of the Q3 VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief is available at www.verisign.com/domainbrief.

About VeriSign

VeriSign, Inc. (VRSN:

19.65, 0.00, 0.0%) is the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world. Billions of times each day, VeriSign helps companies and consumers all over the world engage in communications and commerce with confidence. 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 customer acceptance of any new products or services, including VeriSign Domain Name Services and other infrastructure offerings; the possibility that VeriSign's announced new services may not result in additional customers, profits or revenues; and increased competition and pricing pressures. 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, 2007 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.

Copyright 2008 VeriSign, Inc. All rights reserved. VeriSign, the VeriSign logo, the checkmark circle, and other trademarks, service marks, and designs are registered or unregistered trademarks of VeriSign, Inc., and its subsidiaries in the United States and in foreign countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: VeriSign, Inc.