Microsoft HailStorm

With the creation of such an important and far-reaching technology as Web services, it is

not surprising that major software vendors are planning to deliver a horizontal set of

useful Web services that will be needed by many next-generation Web-based

applications.

Microsoft itself has announced that it will deliver a set of Web services based on the

.NET technologies codenamed "HailStorm." These services collect and store personal

information that can be shared with other applications and services based entirely on

your consent and control.

Nearly all of us have dealt with the frustration of having multiple usernames, passwords,

and profiles for the myriad sites and services that we visit on the Web. What's more,

each site that retains this personal information has differing privacy policies and

procedures for sharing this information with partners.

HailStorm promises to eliminate this frustration and lack of control over your personal

information and replace it with a single source for this data that is under your complete

control with respect to accessing this information.

Microsoft has announced that it will release the following sets of HailStorm services

initially:

§ MyAddress: Electronic and geographic address for an identity. For example,

your mailing address and/or your e-mail address can be managed by this

service.

§ MyProfile: Name, nickname, special dates, pictures, and other more personal

information about yourself.

§ MyContacts: Electronic relationships/address book that maintains names, email

addresses, and other information about your personal contacts.

§ MyLocation: Electronic and geographical location and rendezvous. This

service provides information to help locate you electronically.

§ MyNotifications: Notification subscription, management, and routing provide

services that let you control automatic notifications via e-mail, paging, etc

for items that are important to you.

§ MyInbox: Inbox items like e-mail and voice mail, including existing mail

systems enables you to centrally manage your e-mail and related

information.