Bill Gates Outlines "Seamless Computing" Vision at COMDEX

In his 20th annual COMDEX Las Vegas keynote address, Bill Gates outlined his vision for "Seamless Computing" -- where smarter software would address today's security problems. Gates showcased Microsoft SmartScreen Technology, an anti-spam filtering technology, and a new version of Microsoft's next-generation Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server, an application-layer filtering security technology that defends enterprise networks from malicious attacks. The SmartScreen anti-spam technology has been implemented in Outlook 2003, MSN and Hotmail, and it will be integrated into Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. Gates also demonstrated the management and patching capabilities of Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003, which enables large enterprises to track the patch level of all machines in a network and to deploy new patches to all machines that need them. Gates said Microsoft has used its own product to achieve 100% patch compliance for 110,000 systems in just eight hours.
http://www.microsoft.com

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Nextel to Deploy Motorola's WiDEN Data Technology

Nextel Communications plans to deploy Motorola's WiDEN technology in its nationwide digital iDEN voice and packet data network. Motorola's WiDEN higher speed data technology is designed to quadruple data speeds. Nextel expects to deploy the network infrastructure equipment and software necessary to operate the WiDEN technology in the second half of 2004. Nextel said the capital expenditures for the deployment are already reflected in its current financial guidance.
http://www.nextel.com/

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Liberty Alliance Finalizes Phase 2 Specifications and Privacy Guidelines

The Liberty Alliance published its "Phase 2" specifications aimed at providing an open, standards-based way of delivering identity-based web services within and between trusted domains. The Liberty specifications, which build upon existing open industry standards such as SAML, SOAP, XML and WS-Security, are designed to enable individual implementers to choose the privacy policies and data management options that best fit their region, industry and company policy.
The specifications are now available for download to be used for Liberty-enabled product and service development.


Separately, the Liberty Alliance Project announced a new certification program today that will validate products and services that have successfully implemented its standards for federated network identity. The Liberty Alliance interoperability certification program will award usage of the Liberty Alliance interoperability logo to products and services that prove compatible with its standards.
http://www.projectliberty.org

• The Liberty Alliance was formed in September 2001 by thirty-three major companies in the networking, communications, finance and travel industries with the goal of creating a ubiquitous, single network sign-on that ensures decentralized authentication and open authorization from any device connected to the Internet, from traditional desktop computers and cellular phones to TVs, automobiles, credit cards and point-of-sale terminals.

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