I-Names Explained
The universal private address that can't get spam!
The success of the Internet has led to an explosion of different electronic addresses: email, SMS/MMS, instant messaging, etc. As powerful and convenient as these addresses are, they all have one serious flaw: they are extremely hard to protect from spam, viruses, worms, and other security and privacy violations.
A new type of address has been developed to solve this problem. Called an i-name, it is the first universal private address—a single address you can use for all types of electronic communications while always maintaining control of your privacy.
How I-Names Work
Conventional addresses such as postal addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses are tied to a specific location, device, or service. By contrast, i-names are abstract—they are not tied to any specific location or device. Instead they are a way to ask permission to contact an individual or organization—and for the i-name owner to control to whom this permission is granted.
An i-name is a new “superaddress” that gives its owner complete control over its use
A Lasting Solution for Spam
An i-name is simply “unspammable”—you can’t send it email, call it, or send it a fax directly unless the owner has given you permission. If you don't have permission, you can use an i-name to make a contact request of the owner. These requests can be automatically filtered by your i-name service provider (i-broker) using a personal contact page to eliminate all but legitimate requests for contact.
Every i-name user can have their own personal contact page
This means individuals and organizations who must currently expose their email address, telephone, fax, or other contact data on the Web can immediately begin using an i-name to stop further harvesting of this contact data by spammers and telemarketers. This is especially important as your wireless phone becomes your access to the Internet and frustration with spam costs you not just time, but money.
The Address That Never Has To Change
Because an i-name is not tied to a specific physical or network address, it is also the first address that an individual can keep for life—across schools, jobs, homes, and travels. Furthermore, using the XDI trusted data interchange specifications under development at OASIS, individuals will be able to use their i-name to instantly share and link the precise set of personal data they want with other people, businesses, or organizations while always maintaining strong security and privacy protection.
i-names enable one-click secure, privacy-protected data sharing and synchronization
Better still, when shared contact or other data changes, your i-name service provider can automatically synchronize changes with all linked contacts that have permission to receive them. Finally, a universal automated change-of-address service!
The Benefits of I-Names for Businesses and Organizations
i-names are not just for individuals, but provide many new benefits for businesses and organizations of all types:
- A business i-name is even easier and more intuitive than a domain name as a way for consumers to find a website, product, or service.
- The open OASIS XDI trusted data sharing protocol will offer consumers the easiest, fastest, and most secure way to register, login, or purchase products on your website.
- Your i-name will be your digital "badge of trust" that shows consumers you offer the most powerful form of personal privacy and digitial identity theft protection available.
Based on Open, Royalty-Free OASIS Standards
I-name syntax and i-name services are based on the XRI (Extensible Resource Identifier) and XDI (XRI Data Interchange) specifications under development from OASIS, the Internet’s leading XML technical standards body. Global i-name registry services are governed by XDI.ORG, an international non-profit managing i-name technology in the public interest.
How to Register an I-Name
XDI.ORG is conducting the first trial i-name registry services in partnership with Identity Commons, an international membership organization devoted to providing individuals and organizations with new ways to control their identity and privacy on the Internet. In this trial, 150,000 personal i-names will be available for a 50-year registration term for a one-time registration fee of $25 USD. Registration will be available starting Monday, October 25 at midnight GMT - see further details. Unlimited global i-name registry and resolution services are planned to commence in early 2005.