Java Toolkit Based on Liberty Spec

Phaos Technology Corp. on Monday released version 2.0 of its Liberty Toolkit, a Java-based SDK designed to enable developers to write applications based on the Liberty Alliance Projects 1.0 specification.

The toolkit includes both XML digital signatures and XML encryption and has stronger privacy and identity protection than the previous version, thanks to better integration with hardware operations. It also supports SSL (secure socket layer) for encryption of messages in transit.

Phaos is one of several vendors seeking to capitalize on the momentum surrounding the various efforts to promote federated identity management. Novell Inc. last week announced a new family of identity management and security solutions, dubbed Nsure, that will comprise a broad range of products. Novell, a member of the Liberty Alliance, also plans to release a product, code-named Saturn, by the end of the year that will be compliant with the Liberty specification.

Another Liberty member, RSA Security Inc.s ClearTrust Web access management software supports the SAML (security assertion markup language) specification, which is the basis for the Liberty specification. And the company also recently released a dedicated SecurID software token for Microsoft Corp.s Passport identity management service on the Pocket PC operating system.

Phaos, meanwhile, has chosen to cast its lot with the Liberty specification, which company officials believe is the more flexible and open of the two.

“We see a lot more industry momentum behind the Liberty spec,” said Roger Sullivan, president of Phaos, based in New York.

The company on Monday also announced the release of the Phaos XML Toolkit 2.0 and Phaos SAML 1.0.

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