Comodo reassure SSL customers with price freeze declaration amidst competitor's SSL price hikes

"Security will remain affordable" state Comodo

Kent, UK. Comodo (www.comodogroup.com), the Internet security specialist, has today announced price freezes on its Instant SSL (Instant SSL - SSL Certificate Authority) SSL Certificate brand - a move made to reassure the market that amidst recent price hikes from its competitors, it will not be increasing the cost of its SSL Certificates.

The last 3 months have seen substantial price increases from Verisign subsidiary Thawte, and more recently GeoTrust. Whilst the Thawte price increases were announced by Verisign many weeks in advance, the GeoTrust price increases have been unexpected to much of the market, especially as GeoTrust CEO Neal Creighton was quick to comment on Thawte's increased pricing in his letter aimed at Thawte resellers.

In August 2002, the Thawte price for a 128 bit SSL Certificate was increased from $125 to $199. Earlier this week GeoTrust raised the price of their flagship SSL Certificate, QuickSSL, from $119 to $139, with their Wildcard Certificate increasing 50% in price from $499 to $750 even though GeoTrust SSL Certificates provide a lower browser ubiquity than competing Verisign, Thawte and Comodo certificates. Comodo's Instant SSL Certificates retail at $49, with Wildcard Certificates available at $449 and boast a 99% browser ubiquity.

"We want to assure all our customers that our prices remain frozen," states Paul Tourret, Managing Director of Comodo Limited, "We launched Instant SSL several months ago as the market leader in low-cost, fully validated, fully supported high quality SSL Certificates. The recent price increases from Thawte and GeoTrust only strengthen our unique position in this market - through Instant SSL we ensure that high quality SSL webserver security will remain affordable."

It has been commented by industry analysts that the entry of Comodo into the SSL providers market has intensified competition and enlivened the industry. According to the monthly Netcraft (www.netcraft.com) secure server survey (www.netcraft.com/survey), Comodo has quickly established a 1% market share within the first few months of launching its Instant SSL brand.

Instant SSL has been well received by customers, resellers, ISPs and web hosting companies since its launch. By combining essential factors such as industry standard 128-bit SSL, full validation, full support, 99% browser ubiquity and low prices, Instant SSL occupies a unique position in the SSL providers market.

About Comodo: Comodo (SSL Certificate Authority ) is a leading Internet security specialist and provides next generation E-commerce Security Solutions. Through a growing range of products, services and applications developed by its dedicated research lab, Comodo provides software, hardware, secure messaging and certificate based security.

After its first year of issuing SSL Certificates, Comodo has quickly become the 2nd largest Certification Authority in the world. For product information please contact US (877) COMODO 5 (877-266-636-5) or Europe +44 (0) 161 874 7070 or visit the Comodo Home Page at www.comodogroup.com.