Sun Microsystems, Microsoft's bitter nemesis, stoked the worries and in early summer began contacting companies to pitch the idea of "federating" to create a nonproprietary alternative to Passport, letting their sites link up more easily without Microsoft as middleman.

FORBES: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

With access to an Internet link, they may be able to download a passport application form and submit it by post.

ECONOMIST: When India wires up