Wired and Wireless, cont. We recommended its stock in Stocks That Fits Your Style , our June 1999 cover story. The stock performed admirably and then disappeared following Network's acquisition by another highflier called VeriSign. Now it's time to give VeriSign, a provider of Internet-security software, its due. The combined company represents one of the most promising plays on the construction of the Internet.
Digital certificates are attachments added to electronic messages to ensure the messages' security.
Their most common use is to verify that the sender of a message is who he or she claims to be and allow the message's recipient to send back a secure response. The potential market is 12 million, says Puricelli. About 14 million have been registered to date, and Pesek, the MFS manager, says the total number of registrations could hit 150 million in the next five years. Analysts expect VeriSign to offer package deals to entice customers. The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.