Slashdot Mirror
Liberty Alliance Gains Momentum
kabanossen writes "News.com reports that AOL is joining the Liberty Alliance, which is a coalition of tech companies who are creating an alternative to Microsoft's Passport. Other members of the alliance are Sun, Nokia, Real Networks and General Motors "This provides a common language for authentication to ensure no one company controls the single authentication network" said a rep. " Mmmm...open standards. Hopefully.
Sorry, but I can't see where this will be a whole lot better.
Okay, yeah, we definately know that AOL will provide the IM:) But what are the odds of a patent-free, royalty free standard? Zero. Check out the faq.
To be verified to use their tech, you'll likely have to either pay an exorbitant fee to join, pay an exorbitant 'license fee', or both.
Of course, there is no problem with charging to validate against, say, an AOL server, or store information there. But can even DEVELOPMENT occur without significant costs? No.
The only selling point to this seems to be "we're not Microsoft".
(And again, could somebody please explain the advantages? Most people on the street I've spoken with don't seem interested in having anybody store their CC and other personal information. And before you mention banks and credit card companies, most people would be quite pleased if they didn't have the info either.)
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
I've got the karma to burn, so let me just don my "Captain Obvious" hat here...
America Online? Open standards? You're joking, right?
I seriously doubt that I need to explain myself here.
And don't even think about pointing me in this direction.
"Mod, mod, mod...and another troll bites the dust."