Why GeoTrust? Choosing an SSL Certificate Vendor

There are several things that you should be aware of prior to purchasing a digital certificate :

Reputation and credibility of the Certificate Authority	More than 70,000 companies in over 140 countries employ GeoTrust technology for transaction security, identity verification and trust services on the internet and over wireless networks. GeoTrust has offices in the U.S., Europe and Japan. It has been in business since 1998.
Ubiquity of the root (is it embedded in all of the popular browsers?)	GeoTrust certificates are compatible with Microsoft Internet Explorer® 5.01 and higher and Netscape/AOL web browsers version 4.51 and higher, comprising an estimated 99% of all web browsers in use today. All other commonly used browsers may connect securely with web servers using GeoTrust certificates.
The root is owned by the CA	GeoTrust owns its own root certificate - its root is already trusted and present in all popular browsers. Some CAs such as Comodo do not own their roots. Comodo uses a "chained root". A chained root achieves widespread browser recognition by associating itself with a trusted root Certification Authority. Installing chained root certificates can be harder as they are not always compatible with web servers. If a CA has its own Trusted Root CA certificate already present in browsers, it is a clear sign that they are long-time, stable and credible organization who has established long term relationships with browser developers such as Microsoft and Netscape for the inclusion of their Trusted Root CA certificates.
Lifecycle management tools (ease of installation, renewal, reissuance)	GeoTrust certificates are easy to install and renew. Free reissues are available for the lifetime of the certificate. Purchasers have the option to cancel and receive a refund within 7 days of issuance. Tucows Service Providers can manage every aspect of a certificate's lifecycle; purchase, renewal and reissues via the RWI-2 and the OpenSRS API.
Ease of acquiring the certificate	It is very easy to purchase and install a GeoTrust certificate. Quick SSL certificates can be purchased in under ten minutes.
Who is responsible for vetting the intended certificate purchaser's information? Is it the CA or do they outsource this to their reseller?	GeoTrust vets all purchaser information. Your customers receive additional peace of mind knowing that their information is vetted by a professional, WebTrust certified organization that specializes in SSL certificates - not an unknown third party.