MTV Networks International and Jamster! to Jointly Invest in Mobile Entertainment Research Internationally

MTV Networks International and Jamster! to Jointly Invest in Mobile Entertainment Research Internationally

Research Will Focus on MTV Viewers and Web Site Users

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and LONDON, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jamster! and Jamba!, the premier providers of mobile content and wholly owned subsidiaries of VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN), and MTV Networks International, owned by Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), today announced the launch of a new international research initiative into the mobile entertainment and the digital content marketplace.

The joint study to be launched in the coming weeks will seek to understand usage, mechanics, and frequency of downloading and streaming to mobile phones. The initiative will also provide analysis of the burgeoning reliance that consumers place on access to mobile devices, and the impact of wireless on content creation and communication.

"This new study in collaboration with our mobile content partner, Jamster! and Jamba!, will enable us to understand how the role of mobile content is evolving around the world and how we can develop compelling, new entertainment that is even more relevant to consumers," said Graham Saxton, Senior Vice President, Research and Planning, MTV Networks International.

"Jamster! and Jamba! and MTV Networks International are driving the expansion of the mobile entertainment market," said Vernon Irvin, Executive Vice President and General Manager, VeriSign Communications Services. "This study will be an invaluable tool to understand the market of today and anticipate the trends of tomorrow."

MTV initiates more local, pan-regional and global youth research than any other media company worldwide. Studies in the past have included: Sources of Cool, a global initiative that identified trend developments among youth; Collections of Cool, a pan-European research report addressing key youth behaviors; MTV Generations, a nine-country European study defining the key mindsets of Generation X and Generation Y; and Switched On, an on-going youth trends monitor.

Mobile content continues to be an increasingly important part of the music industry. Like music videos, entertainers are beginning to utilize ringtones, fun sounds and wallpapers as powerful promotional tools for their new music releases. MTV and Jamster! are key global partners for on-demand services for digital content consumers and collaborate on Jamster!'s ringtone chart shows, which have become a respected source for measuring the reach of an artist's mobile content appeal for MTV's audience. Last year alone, more than 8 billion dollars were spent in the mobile content services market.

About MTV Networks International

MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Paramount Comedy, Game One and FLUX seen in 429.1 million households in 167 countries and 18 languages via 109 locally programmed and operated TV channels and 94 Web sites. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom International Inc.

About Jamster! and VeriSign

Jamster!, operating worldwide, is a wholly owned subsidiary of VeriSign, Inc. Jamster! delivers mobile content services-including ring tones, popular music, graphics, and games-to carriers and consumers. Jamster! is a premier provider of mobile content and delivers a robust catalog of downloadable content including ring tones, popular music, graphics and games. VeriSign, Inc. operates intelligent infrastructure services that enable and protect interactions across voice and data networks-anytime, from anywhere on multiple devices. 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 market domain services, including customer acceptance of these services; and the inability of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new products and services and customer acceptance of any new products or services. 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, 2004 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statement after the date of this press release.

Source: VeriSign, Inc.

CONTACT: media, Brian O'Shaughnessy of VeriSign Inc., +1-650-426-5270, or boshaughnessy@verisign.com; Rob Hooper of MTV Networks International, +44-20-7478-6520, or hooper.rob@mtvne.com

Web site: http://www.verisign.com/

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