Once Again, Sun Steps Into Microsoft's Path

Sun Microsystems(SUNW Quote) and about 30 of its closest friends are taking a pass on Microsoft's(MSFT Quote) Passport.

Sun and its partners today announced the formation of the Liberty Alliance Project, an initiative to promote an open identification standard on the Internet that's a clear swipe at Microsoft's single sign-on Passport initiative.

The group is hailing its efforts as a breakthrough initiative because it will let consumers decide which institutions control different types of information. The goal of both Microsoft's and Sun's programs is to create a single electronic form that consumers can use to register and buy throughout the Web. ...