The Register: Microsoft Passport Boost Through Limited Code Access

“Source code from Microsoft Corp’s .NET Passport online
authentication service is to be turned loose under a pseudo open
source initiative, a move the company claimed will assist
development of .NET applications…

“However, the move – announced at Digital Identity World 2002
Conference in Denver, Colorado – is seen as an attempt to
specifically drive Passport’s commercial use, seeding the ground
for later rollout of .NET services by Microsoft and ISVs.

“Passport was last year positioned by Microsoft’s as its enabler
for federated single sign-in by customers to web services. Despite
200 million Passport accounts and early backing from some partners
the service has failed to generate a groundswell of support.

“That honor has, instead, fallen to the Liberty Alliance Project
which counts heavyweight IT consumers such as American Express,
General Motors and United Airlines among its nearly 100-strong
membership. Liberty is now signing up non-profits and low-income
organizations…”

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