Since we all seem to be concerned about security, how does this alternative sound?
[link|http://alllinuxdevices.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2001-07-31-003-03-SC-HH|
PlayApp Offers Free Open-Source Alternative to Microsoft's Passport]
Jul 31, 2001, 22 :59 UTC

DALLAS, July 30 -- PlayApp, LLC, Internet distributor of protected PlayApps, in the form of digital books, music, videos, business apps, and streaming channels, announced today that they are offering their PlayApp Key technology as a free open-source alternative to Microsoft's Passport.

PlayApp Keys, which are key-chain sized portable USB devices consumers can purchase from PlayApp.com for $44 each, give consumers complete control over many of their security needs. PlayApp Keys, when used with the free PlayApp Player program, allows consumers to instantly log-on to websites. Other uses include generating codes for encrypting/decrypting files and generating/using PGP passphrases for secure email/real-time communications.

``We feel it's important to let consumers know that there's an alternative that doesn't require them to give up their personal information to any one company. We also want to let website owners know about free open-source code they can use to allow PlayApp Key owners to instantly log-on to their websites. All interaction between consumers and websites stays with them and isn't revealed to anyone else,'' says John Willsey, inventor of PlayApps and PlayApp Keys.