Longhorn: If they build it, will anyone come?
Published: 01 Apr 2005 18:10 BST
The company is also looking to bring back some old ideas. It's working on a technology called "info-cards" in which consumers could securely store information that is to be shared with online commerce sites. Based on the WS-* Web services architecture, info-cards will help customers manage multiple identities, Microsoft said, much as people have multiple cards in their wallet: credit cards, bank cards and membership cards.
In many ways, the idea is a throwback to Microsoft's Passport authentication programme, which met with only tepid interest from e-commerce companies and others. The software maker said it is talking with partners but would not say who it might have lined up in support of the info card plan.
DiDio said she sees an opportunity for Microsoft to expand the info card idea beyond the consumer and use it as part of an improved identity management option for businesses. She notes that one of the few bright spots for Novell in its recent financial report was the nearly $60m the company pulled in from its new identity management product.
"Clearly you are going to see them expand on the idea of the info card," she said. "They always start with the consumer stuff and then go up to the server."
Keep it simple
Gartner's Silver said Microsoft should also make sure the upgrade process is as painless as possible, since many people are content with Windows XP. As a model, he pointed to a new compatibility tool Microsoft developed for XP Service Pack 2. The software tool works with machines that have not yet been updated to identify programs and behaviours that could be a problem once a machine is brought up to date.
"I think it's a good example of what they really need," he said. "OS upgrades are one of the more painful things people do. It's like ripping out your pipes every four years."
Though Microsoft has been quiet for many months about Longhorn, Gartenberg said he doesn't think that's necessarily a bad thing.
"Before you can start generating enthusiasm, you have to figure out what you are generating enthusiasm for," he said.
During the next 18 months, though, Microsoft will have to start gradually building its case for Longhorn.
"That's the challenge — to start getting the right people excited about it, without slowing down the wrong people, that is, the people just now deploying Windows XP, or SP2 on top of Windows XP."
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