Launched in 2002 by Origo, the technology standards body for the financial services market, UNIPASS is an individual digital certificate that replaces the need for multiple user IDs and passwords to access provider and portal websites, and it is now being used by more than 10,000 IFAs.

The Exchange has chosen to use the award winning UNIPASS service to sit along side its existing secure log-on process. Intermediaries will have the option to use the UNIPASS certificates or continue using The Exchange's own log-on process depending on what suits their specific business needs. Initially UNIPASS will be implemented for Exweb and Exweb Broker and The Exchange also plans to roll out the UNIPASS service with its new offering, Exweb Gold later this year.

Paul Pettitt, managing director of Origo, commented: "The adoption of UNIPASS by The Exchange is a great endorsement and clearly demonstrates that UNIPASS is providing a valuable service for IFAs, portals and product providers."

David Child, managing director at The Exchange, commented: "UNIPASS is fast becoming the industry norm for providing secure Internet access for financial advisers. As the leading provider of portal services it is important that we give our IFA customers the option to use these certificates if it suits their needs."

UNIPASS is already in use at many of the UK's major life companies, now including: AXA, Scottish Equitable, Standard Life, Norwich Union, Prudential, Skandia, CoFunds, Clerical Medical, Friends Provident, and Scottish Widows, and Origo plans to extend its reach throughout 2004.