Put simply, Microsoft's aim is to seamlessly integrate the different types of devices that can access the internet - from a WAP device to your Netscape web browser - and this was showcased by a short and humorous video starring Steve Hytner - the actor that played Kenny Banya on TV's Seinfeld.
In this video the absent-minded character forgot his mobile phone at home and therefore couldn't access any of his calendar functions or other services - he did remember his smartcard though, and this is the point Microsoft was trying to get across.
By simply getting a replacement phone, he swiped his card (which by the way held an 8-bit operating system) and through hardware and password verification was able to access his info.
Later on the actor got into a little strife - injuring himself after a run in with a bicycle courier - and again by simply using his phone and smartcard was able to receive proper medical attention.
The smartcard verification enabled the doctor in the nearest medical centre to access the unlucky character's on-line medical information for a limited amount of time.
Anywhere, any device!
That's the message that was given at the session and this programming would be made possible by the almost' agreed upon XML standard for developers to make information gathering quick and more efficient by bringing information from various sources to one single interface over cross-platforms.
The evolution of Microsoft's product line-up in this market will feature a host of programs for developers, with one such program being Commerce Server, an out of the box solution for ecommerce web-sites that will only require tailoring the product to suite your needs.
No time will need to be spent developing the product as the basic infrastructure will already be there, meaning the business can get to consumers with their ecommerce web site within a minimal timeframe.
Also touched upon was a new programming language for developers called C-Sharp, which has been derived from C and C++ for rapidly building applications for the .Net strategy.
