When Microsoft released Active Directory Federation Services V2 recently, we indicated we were holding off on shipping CardSpace 2.0 while figuring out how to best integrate Minimal Disclosure Technology (U-Prove) and create maximum synergy with the OpenID and OAuth initiatives. Some feared the change in plan meant Microsoft was backing away from the idea of Information Cards and a visual identity selector. Nothing could be further from the truth – the growth in adoption of federation and the shift toward cloud computing both make Information Card technology more important than ever.
This new announcement from Technet identity blog will therefore come as good news:
Today, Microsoft is announcing the availability of the Information Card Issuance Community Technology Preview (CTP) to enable the following scenarios with Active Directory Federation Services 2.0 RTM:
- Administrators can install an Information Card Issuance component on AD FS 2.0 RTM servers and configure Information Card Issuance policy and parameters.
- End users with IMI 1.0- or IMI 1.1 (DRAFT)-compliant identity selectors can obtain Information Cards backed by username/password, X.509 digital certificate, or Kerberos.
- Continued support for Windows CardSpace 1.0 in Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP SP 3 running .NET 3.5 SP1.
We have also added two new mechanisms for interaction and feedback on this topic, an Information Card Issuance Forum and a monitored e-mail alias ici-ctp@microsoft.com
