The Register: MS-built UK 'Government Gateway' locks out non-MS browsers

May 28, 2001, 19:11 (61 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by John Lettice)

[ Thanks to Tim Hanson for this link. ]

Go, monoculture. It looks as if Microsoft's "Government Gateway" site, key to an ongoing inititiative by the government in the UK to make all its services available online, doesn't allow many browsers thanks to the nature of the digital certificates it issues: specifically, browsers that aren't IE 5.01 or better. The Register reports the issue is still somewhat up in the air.

"Please note that if you wish to enrol for services that require a digital certificate, you may not be able to use the full range of browsers listed above. For example, Equifax certificates can currently only be used with Internet Explorer 5.01 or later (they do not work on any version of the Netscape browser); ChamberSign certificates can be used with both Nestcape Navigator and Internet Explorer, except they are not currently supported on version 6 of the Netscape browser. Please check your certificate provider's web site for more information about which browsers they support."

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