What's Microsoft's position on Passport?
I'm sure most saw the news that eBay is dropping support for Windows Passport. Apparently, BetaNews learned that Microsoft will not be renewing ANY contracts with third party sites, so it's not just eBay. What's going on?
"Over the past few years, we've learned a lot working with partners and customers using Passport, and our commitment to provide partners with secure and flexible authentication service continues," a company spokesperson told BetaNews. "That said—the primary value of single sign in authentication services is determined by related parties."
But was Microsoft admitting that by losing eBay, as well as several other high-profile Passport clients in recent months, Passport was no longer a priority in Redmond? Hardly, Microsoft said in a response to that question and others on Thursday.
"Passport continues to be a critical service for Microsoft and MSN and that the changes with Passport that we are seeing are really an evolution," the spokesperson said. "Passport continues to be one of the largest authentication systems in the world."
If this is true, what's really going on? Time will tell. To read what Microsoft told eWeek, here's the link:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1746713,00.asp