That account lets you use the same password to log in at participating sites. If it's an online store, you can buy stuff without having to re-enter your credit card data. And it won't matter if you're trying to do that on a PC, a cell phone, or a handheld computer. Think of it as a virtual safety deposit box. But instead of going to the bank every time you need an important document, you can get a copy with the click of a mouse.
Analysts say the potential value of such a service is enormous.
Suddenly, complicated transactions like refinancing a house or getting a car loan could be a snap. Some analysts, such as Rob Enderle of Giga Information Group, believe that if Microsoft can deliver on HailStorm's promise, it could spark a rally in the slumping technology markets as companies rush to modernize their networks and deploy the new services. We are highlighting this as one of the few things that might refuel technology in the next 18 months. It would take a new infrastructure. You'd have to beef a lot of things up.