Here's a story about the I/O - MSFT deal, from today's Press Enterprise of Riverside, California:
"How did an upstart small company like I/O Software get the
attention of giant Microsoft?
"Easy. I/O Software co-founder William Saito simply e-mailed Bill Gates.
"Actually, I/O software and Microsoft have had a business
relationship since shortly after Saito and Tas Dienes started the company in 1991.
"In the beginning, I/O Software's primary business was 'localizing' software, or translating software into Japanese and other languages. That work included many Microsoft applications. That led to a long-term bond between the two companies, Saito said in a recent interview.
"Two years ago, when Saito heard that Microsoft had joined a rival biometric standards group called BIO-API, he decided to e-mail Gates.
"'I asked why was BIO-API trying to re-invent the wheel when we (I/O Software) were already here with a biometric standard that had been tested and proven?' Saito said in a recent interview.
"Gates put Saito in touch with Microsoft's network security
executives, which led to a presentation of I/O Software's biometric products at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Wash.
"'They liked our presentation, but said they were going to start from scratch (on their own biometrics system),' Saito said. 'We said OK, fine, but let us participate in that,' he said.
"But Microsoft officials were busy trying to complete work on Windows 2000 and weren't doing much on any other projects.
"Once Windows 2000 was released, Saito decided to contact Microsoft again. 'So we called Microsoft, and they told us that we'd caught them at a good time . . . because they were looking down the road to future (Windows) features,' he said.
"'One thing led to another. We starting serious talks (about
incorporating I/O Software's biometrics products) about six months ago,' Saito said.
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There are a couple of items in there that are troubling: (1) MSFT's original intention to build its own biometric base. That has probably now been abandoned. (2) The general reference to MSFT incorporating I/O products, which I hope is limited to the API just announced and not SecureSuite. |
