HP's new Microsoft .NET-based "National ID System" for governments

Snipped from the politech list:

Hewlett-Packard plans to launch a product on Friday that helps governments check the digital identity of citizens. The technology, called the HP National Identity System, is designed to be used in conjunction with a number of Microsoft products, including its .Net line of server, database and middleware programs. The companies plan to jointly develop, market and offer training for the authentication system.

Link to yesterday's CNET story. And as anticipated, here is today's H-P press release.

HP today announced the availability of the HP National Identity System (NIS) solution on the Microsoft(R) .NET platform. The HP NIS solution allows governments to build and quickly deploy at an affordable price a complete, standards-based and technologically agile infrastructure that meets their changing needs for security and identity management.

Going beyond simple secure identification and authentication functionality, the solution enables modern national identification systems to allow citizens to access e-government services and conduct secure transactions. The solution also provides citizens with improved secure and intelligent identity documents. For example, with heightened security awareness at national borders, the solution fulfills the new requirement to ensure traveler and citizen credentials across an entire country or region.

In addition, the modular nature of the solution enables national and regional governments to more easily plug in additional elements, such as biometrics, to customize and balance the level of security and privacy as defined by a government's policy and requirements (...) HP and Microsoft are investing in the solution through initiatives such as joint training programs and the establishment of specialist centers around the world to further develop, demonstrate and sell national identity system solutions.

Link to press release.