HP aims to help governments check IDs

The technology, called the HP National Identity System, is designed to be used in conjunction with a number of Microsoft products, including its .Net line of server, database and middleware programs. The companies plan to jointly develop, market and offer training for the authentication system.

The product can be used to authenticate visitors to government Web sites, to control access to services and manage citizens' online identity, HP said.

In addition, the new product includes technology to make ID documents--such as passports, driver's licenses and identity cards--more secure and "intelligent," the company said. The technology can fulfill new secure ID requirements designed to heighten security at national borders, the company said.

The National Identity System can handle numerous tasks, including online and offline identity verification, live capture of demographic and biometric data, and secure access to documents. It's also compatible with various biometric identification systems and incorporates public key infrastructure and digital signatures, the company said.

The governments of Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria have already begun to use the tools, HP said.