Laying Waste with Identity

Nullsoft, an America Online Group headed by Justin Frankel, quietly released Waste which allows small groups (up to 50 or so people) to set up a P2P network that is secure through the integration of digital identity. "The software ... offers encryption and authentication to prevent non-invitees from accessing the private networks. The real play is when you've got small networks of co-workers or friends who can share whatever they want securely."

This is a use of digital identity oriented computing that was predicted in Eric's recent article and Waste is a great example of what you will see a lot more of in the coming years as people start to think about applications and software from an identity point of view. The organization of networked computing around identity is so compelling (like it's the only way that will really work out) that you'll see applications like this one appear where the builder is compelled to the design by the need, and gets there even when he doesn't think of identity per se. But this is a classic digital identity application, and one that can't deliver without being identity-centric.