Microsoft's Passport to Longhorn

Microsoft will resurrect aspects of its Passport scheme in the upcoming versions of both Internet Explorer and Windows, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

IE7 and Longhorn will utilise technology reminiscent of the much maligned Passport identity management scheme to enable Windows users to give encrypted personal details, including credit card and contact information to businesses and individuals they trust, the report says.

Unlike Passport, however, an individual's personal data - to be named 'info cards' - will be stored with them rather than centrally with Microsoft.

Passport received its death knell late last year when eBay rejected the technology. It had been criticised since its launch, however, with analyst firm Gartner warning that the technology wasn't secure enough for businesses and financial institutions.

John Pescatore, VP for internet security at Gartner, said the scheme sounded like a rehash of technology developed by Microsoft and others. "It really doesn't sound like there's much more than old digital wallet ideas coming back. That's nothing new... In the early days of Passport, it had a digital wallet scheme."

"Unlike Passport, there's no big identity service in the sky," he added. "What's key is how does it know it's a site I can trust. It need be more than digital certificates. There needs to be more technology built into the browser side."

A Microsoft spokeswoman said: "'Info-card', a code name for a technology Microsoft previewed at the 2003 PDC, is one of many efforts currently under development and evaluation... It is too early in the development process to discuss specifics about how the “Info-card” technology will be delivered."

The Wall Street Journal also reports that IE7, which will be released separately from Longhorn, will also include more technology aimed at helping users spot and block phishing scams.

Recycling old software for new products looks to becoming a bit of a habit in Redmond - Microsoft has also settled on the new name for Windows XP without Media Player.

Following a ruling from the European Commission, Microsoft was instructed to rename the Media Player-less product. While Microsoft had plumped for Windows XP Reduced Media Edition, the final title for the software will be Windows XP Home Edition N or Windows XP Professional Edition N.