Extended validation certificate?

[julie_thompson]

Hi everyone!

I just read a blurb in our local newspaper about sites having an 'extended validation certificate'. And those that do, in IE7, the address bar will turn green. Those sites that do not have this certificate, the address bar will not change color. They tout that this will help ensure the customer of an e-commerce store is actually doing business with a legitimate business whose business license and other audits has been verified by the entity that performed the verification, such as Verisign. The certs prices range, depending on the entity issuing the cert, from $350.00 to over a $1000 a year.

What does this mean for us small stores? If we do not play with the big guys and buy a cert, such as Overstock.com who just purchased their green bar cert, will we end up losing customers?

Julie

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

GeoTrust expects to be retailing Extended Validation Certificates in Jan 07. They have not yet released pricing, but I would expect them to be cheaper than Verisign's certs since they typically have a lower price point.

[Nerd Boy Inc]

Dear All,

Here are two articles you need to read. It will be very hard in the short run for small business to get the Seal / Cert..

Here is a quote from on of the articles:

"Because many of the steps rely upon government filings, general partnerships, unincorporated associations, sole proprietorships and individuals are currently barred from getting these certificates."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_hi_te/internet_padlocks_checks

and

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_hi_te/internet_padlocks

[Red Flare]

Can someon tell me what this statement implies?
:confused:
"Diorinos added that smaller merchants not covered still could get EV certificates through a third-party payment processor that is verified."

[Nerd Boy Inc]

Dear Red Flare,

Since the Payment Processor has to make sure you are a valid business and they are putting money someplace for you, they "might" be able to issue the Cert..

It appears part of the process is proving you are a valid business, have a phone, and a bank account. Since the Payment Processor has completed this part of the check, it validates you.

That is the way I read it.