Microsoft has second go at single sign-on

Microsoft has started offering developers a software development kit for its Windows Live ID service.

Windows Live ID allows users to maintain a single sign-on to access any number of services. Microsoft plans to use Live ID to link all of its Windows Live services.

The company also hopes that third-party developers will adopt Live ID 2 and bring more users into the programme.

Website developers will implement the Live ID system by requiring users to click on a link that redirects to the Windows Live sign-in page.

After signing in, users will return to the third-party site with special data that the site administrator can use to decide what specific data and areas of a site each user will be allowed to access.

Microsoft hopes that Live ID will fare better than its predecessor, the ill-fated Hailstorm project.

Launched in 2002, Hailstorm arrived during the height of the company's anti-trust troubles.

It met with stiff resistance from privacy groups, which claimed that the system would leave user information vulnerable to attack.

See also:

Microsoft buries 'key .Net milestone'

MyServices mothballed in favour of software for cars  18 Dec 2002

Hailstorm blow out causes web ID crisis

Future of ecommerce under threat, says analyst  16 Apr 2002

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