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Technology Stocks : Novell (NOVL) dirt cheap, good buy? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Paul Fiondella who wrote (25110)	1/23/1999 7:59:00 PM
From: E_K_S	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42771

Hi Paul - It is very interesting that this topic has come up. Last week here at the San Jose Convention Center was "RSA'99". Essentially this trade show featured many small companies showing Internet /Network security products, digital identity cards, bio-identity devises, secure digital signature solutions...etc.. From my review it appears that several of the solutions offered are platform and network dependent. The security software is loaded on-top of the server and the scanning devises run on the client. Many companies are building secure systems for NT based platforms but one small company ActivCard (located in Fremont CA) has a multi-service authentication system which they plan to integrate into Novell's Border-Manager software. Lucent has recently signed a contract with ActivCard to use their software system in their RAS networks. The upshot is that each user will eventually use their own secure smart card to allow access to the "secure" network. All e-commerce companies would process Internet transactions through this "secure" network as you explained in your earlier post....but the end-user's digital identity would be stored in (1) their digital card and (2) verified with a separate PIN number or through a Bio (ie. eye or thumb) scanning devise. They had scanners that worked on PC's, Palm Pilots and I even anticipate "Jini" enabled JAVA devises that can perform both the Bio and secure card scans for under $100 soon. It will be very interesting how this all develops. Watch for Sun Microsystems new Jini enabled network devise announcements Monday in San Francisco. EKS

To: Paul Fiondella who wrote (25110)	1/24/1999 2:28:00 AM
From: PJ Strifas	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 42771

Hey Paul, Do you think this "product" can breathe life into the ideas of companies like CyberCash? And what about E-Wallet (isn't that what MSFT was trying to make happen?), would this be a better use of that type of thinking only that NOVL has the plumbing to make it possible and realistic? [not trying to bash MSFT here at all, just wondering] I mean you are correct in your assessment that this Digital Me is something for other companies to utilize in their transaction based services. I wonder if any of the auction sites (OnSale, eBay, etc) would be interested in a demo! That would be the first place I would take this Digital Me if I was working at NOVL. Heck, come Monday morning, I think I'll make a call :) As an avid internet user and online shopper (is it safe, heck, if I can trust the college student waiter with my credit card at the local restuarant....) this could be a break through. I wouldn't mind having my information stored either by the merchant or even a 3rd party to make transactions easier and safe. Heck, Amazon.com already uses something like this on it's website (they call it OneClick shopping). You have to enable it but it sure makes things easy. Peter Strifas

To: Paul Fiondella who wrote (25110)	1/24/1999 10:42:00 AM
From: Frederick Smart	Respond to of 42771

>>This is an idea worth thinking about at Novell. IT gets them into the consumer business by providing a service to consumers which requires much plumbing from Novell's financial partners. IT puts all of these customers into Novell's vest pocket --- just the way portals do --- at very little cost to Novell. ===================== Is anybody at Novell listening??>> Paul: Let's see for ourselves. I, too, think Novell could step right into this space. Fred