Re: Abstraction from existing technologies

Comments inline

----- Original Message -----
From: "Christian Hauser" <lobase@gmx.net>
To: <shahid@dcl.docomo-usa.com>
Cc: <geopriv@mail.apps.ietf.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 7:27 AM
Subject: Re: Abstraction from existing technologies

> In my opinion, authenticating does not necessarily have to imply revealing
> a user's real identity. I think, it should be possible to be authenticated
> by a pseudonym (perhaps with a trusted third party guaranteeing for the
> integrity of the pseudonym and/or for the liquidity of the user).
According to the
> provider's policy more or less additional information can be bound to that
> pseudonym, whatever the provider needs for authentication.

I understand your point. I agree that it may be possible for the users to
get themselves authenticated with different network providers using possibly
different pseudonyms. I have two concerns.

First, will it be possible for the mobile device to do a transparent and
seamless handover (with possibility of session migration) between two
different (or same) access technologies, provided by different operators?

Second, existing UMTS standards require the mobile terminal to have a USIM
at all times. The USIM identifies the user to any UMTS network provider.
Without the USIM no calls or location estimates (except for emergencies) can
be made. Other types of wireless networks do not have this requirement. So
the UMTS operators will always be aware about the real identity of the user.

Best Regards,
Shahid
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Shahid Shoaib +1-408-451-4740 Direct
DoCoMo USA Labs Inc. +1-408-573-1090 Fax
shahid@dcl.docomo-usa.com http://www.docomo-usa.com
Received on Wed Jul 25 19:49:28 2001