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The Hailstorm To Come

Like scientists brewing sophisticated solutions, Microsoft's been perfecting its .NET offerings with single-minded devotion. Recently, it announced HailStorm, a set of enabling services that promises to advance .NET. And enable developers to build XML-based Web services offering new levels of personalization. One of the new technology's distinguishing features is that its largely people-centric, instead of being device-, application-, service- or network-centric.

Based on Microsoft's popular Passport authentication technology, HailStorm promises unprecedented collaboration and integration. It uses instant messaging as a development application instead of for limited consumer use. Bill Gates believes Hailstorm will "take individual empowerment to a new level, creating unprecedented opportunity for the industry and trigger a renewed wave of excitement."

Hailstorm moves the Internet towards an end-user subscription model. Using open access, it be ported to any Internet-enabled device regardless of platform, operating system or network provider. Authentication is supported by partners including American Express, ClickCommerce, Groove and eBay. According to Meg Whitman, President and CEO of eBay, "By taking advantage of MS .NET technology, we can open up the eBay API to an even larger community of developers."

Imagine the luxury of a .NET world without rush or tension. A few key taps has all your devices talking to one another. Microsoft's new software-as-a-service strategy lets you use services like instant stock quotes, calendaring and Web commerce direct on your pager or PC. If this proposed lifestyle appears comforting especially on those rushed-Mondays and hectic-Fridays, just hold on a moment. The good things in life don't come for free!

This promised empowerment has already kicked up a big fuss in the industry. AOL and SUN, whose markets are being threatened, are already considering reporting Microsoft to the US Justice Department (again). Involving both breadth and depth, Hailstorm is a potential big revenues generator for Microsoft. Big enough for the competition to wonder how this "openness" will reflect on their sales.

To become Hailstorm-enabled, you do need to first share data that you have, so far, considered quite private. This includes, but is not restricted to your user profile, application settings, devices used, favorite Web sites, credit card information, or contact lists.

Should you worry? Microsoft pledges to protect your information from hackers. It claims it will only make available such private details with your express permission. Of course, this is the same company that sends "critical updates" to fix security holes. And failed to protect its own data centre during a denial-of-service attack.

Addressing the privacy issue, Bob Muglia, Vice President, .NET Services says, "Hailstorm turns the industry debate over online privacy on its head. It starts with the fundamental assumption that the user owns and controls their personal information and is empowered to decide who gets to decide with whom they share any of their information and under what terms."

This scope sounds quite ambitious given the relativity of the IP issue. But if everything is open and accessible then logically so is your information. Given this scenario, are you ready to share your personal details? Is any technology really worth this intrusion? It's one thing to say, 'I'm the Master of my PC', only to discover that someone else has already mastered you!

As for 'open access', it's clear that Microsoft aims to leverage its existing client base to promote both .NET and a stronger Windows platform. Microsoft also claims that the success of Hailstorm rides on its observance of open protocols and access within the industry. The company is set to make this platform so compelling that future developer won't even think about alternates like Linux, Unix and Solaris.

Were we to debate the potential of .NET, the future looks both liberating and incredibly frightening. This is virtually the most important thing ever to happen to computing and the Internet.

The future MSN Messenger will present user-specific information like account balances and auctions information from American Express and eBay respectively. Technology's supposed to make life easier. But are you willing enough to use something that implies broadcasting your identity between different services without you being able to verify it each time.

This single-point data collection makes Hailstorm an enchanting target for hackers. With no real way for the consumer to monitor control levels, how feasible is such large-scale use of permission-based authorization?

Another possible drawback of Hailstorm is its packaging. While charging for access puts users in control, Microsoft needs to be more specific about access to, and packaging of, Hailstorm. Are all the services going to be available in a single bundle? Or will they also be available in individual combinations?

Will this highly technical, competitive undertaking survive the market? The stakes for Microsoft are huge. If .NET flops and worst case drags Microsoft down with it there will be a technological upheaval in the industry. But if this new initiative succeeds, the equation will change in both the end-users' favour as well as Microsoft's. I'm thrilled at the promise of .NET's Hailstorm, but the insecurity scares me. Let's hope that mind proves stronger than malicious matter.

Amrita Ghosh
[email protected]

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