Signing on the Digital Line

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January 05, 1998, Issue: 696
Section: Table of Contents

Signing on the Digital Line

Early this year, Netscape Communications will begin beta testing extensions to its Communicator client that will offer electronic form signing. Specifically, Netscape will offer a digital-signature technology that lets users put a unique, encrypted notation on an electronic document received over the Internet. This will eliminate a common E-commerce problem, according to Netscape. Namely, many merchants and financial institutions still require users to print out electronic forms and fax them in with a signature. The new extension to Communicator will let users register unique numerical strings with certificate authorities and use these strings as electronic signatures. The beta testers of this technology will be the National Automated Clearing House Association, which handles funds transfers between banks, and the Integrion Financial Network, a partnership of 18 financial institutions, Visa USA and IBM.