Microsoft Plans to Integrate InfoCard Technology into Its Latest Operating Systems for Enhanced Password and Identity Management
Microsoft President Bill Gates has confirmed that InfoCard will function as a digital wallet for managing personal information online. Utilizing InfoCard aims to eliminate the hassles users face from having to remember numerous different details across various websites.
Software companies are striving to address the issues of password management and authenticating true identity, as e-commerce and online banking websites are increasingly targeted for exploitation and fraud. Microsoft has been discussing InfoCard since last year and confirmed yesterday that the technology is now operational.
Customers will be able to access InfoCard directly from the Control Panel in both Windows Vista and Windows XP, as well as in Internet Explorer 7.
InfoCard will be part of WinFX, the programming model for Windows Vista, allowing developers to utilize the technology for website development. Additionally, Microsoft has released a resource kit named “Federated Identity and Access Resource Kit” for InfoCard, enabling users to experiment with the pre-release version of Windows Vista.
Samsung has also announced that Windows Vista will significantly boost the NAND flash memory market upon its launch later this year. This advancement is attributed to the integration of External Memory Device (EMD) technology in the new generation operating system, which allows USB Flash drives to expand a computer’s memory bank while supporting Flash cache in the hard drive to enhance boot speed.
According to American research firm iSuppli, Samsung was the largest producer of NAND Flash in 2005, holding a 52.9% market share and generating revenues of $5.74 billion.
