Microsoft dumps HailStorm This is reported today in the New York Times. I'm sure similar stories will appear very soon in many other web sites.
Microsoft is still thinking about licensing the software to corporations, who could use it for their own networks. There is a problem with this. If a vulnerability is found in the software, that means all deployments of the software are at risk. Multiple implementations of a technology is a very good thing from a security point of view, though perhaps not from an economic point of view.
What makes more sense to me, though, would be a service where third party plug-ins could be purchased and installed into a standard personal application server. This sounds a lot like HTTP/CGI/Servlets doesn't it? For accessible address books, email, file storage, etc why not a personal application server? Most users have quite powerful computers that could easily pull the load of a personal application server. For users with always-on Internet access, they could host the personal application server on their own computer. For other users, including those with always-on Internet connections who want managed service, there could be hosting providers that offer the service. Think of it as a Personal HailStorm, where you have the choice of software you want to install, and hopefully even a choice of service providers and third-party plug-in vendors.
Posted by Doug Sauder at April 11, 2002 11:40 AM