Google joins the FIDO Alliance's board of directors

Google recently joined the FIDO (Fast Identity Online) Alliance’s board of directors in order to bolster their two-factor authentication efforts. NXP and CrucialTec have also joined the board according to a press release published by FIDO.

FIDO plans to use a number of different technologies to help strengthen security measures across the web. Biometric verification is one of the technologies that FIDO will invest resources in. This method of authentication is reliable for identifying an individual as it uses distinguishable traits like fingerprints, voice recognition, eye scanning and face authentication to verify a user.

One Time Passwords is another technology high on FIDO’s list. As the name suggests, OTPs can only be used once. They are generated randomly and can only be retrieved by a special device or via computer. If you need an idea of exactly how this works, look no further than Battle.net’s Mobile Authenticator.

It should come as little surprise that FIDO is also interested in Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. This is one of the more common technologies already in the hands of consumers thanks to smartphones and tablets. It works by putting two devices with NFC chips near each other so they can communicate successfully.

These are just a few of the technologies that FIDO will likely adopt although a timeframe hasn’t been announced as of yet. The initiative was created in part by Lenovo and PayPal last year to help reinvent the most basic security measure: the password.

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By: Unknown On 12:06 AM

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BlackBerry adds ex-Verizon, Sony Ericsson chiefs to its board of directors

BlackBerry Announces Two New Board Directors

WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Feb. 7, 2013) - BlackBerry® (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB) today announced it has appointed two new Directors to the Company's Board of Directors – Richard "Dick" Lynch, retired Executive Vice President of Verizon Communications Inc. and Bert Nordberg, former Chief Executive Officer of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications.

Commenting on their appointment, Board Chair Barbara Stymiest said, "We are very pleased to add the talent and industry knowledge of these two respected executives to our Board. We are looking forward to their contributions as we continue to drive for long-term shareholder value and seek opportunities to leverage the extraordinary BlackBerry 10 platform launched last week."

With the additions of Mr. Lynch and Mr. Nordberg, the Company's board of directors now consists of 12 members, of which 10 are independent members including an independent chair.

Richard "Dick" Lynch is president of FB Associates, LLC, which provides advisory and consulting services at the intersection of technology, marketing, and business operations. Prior to his current roles, Lynch had been the EVP & Chief Technology Officer for Verizon Communications Inc. since 2007 and the EVP & CTO of Verizon Wireless and its predecessors since 1990.

Lynch is a Fellow of The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). He has sat on the boards of numerous industry organizations including the GSM Association (GSMA), the CDMA Development Group (CDG), and as a member of the Federal Communications Commission Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Communications Security Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC). Lynch has also been honored with the President's Award by the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA), and been inducted into the Wireless History Foundation's Hall of Fame. Lynch currently serves on the boards of TranSwitch Corporation where he is chairman and Ruckus Wireless.

Lynch is a graduate of Lowell Technological Institute (now University of Massachusetts) where he received bachelors and masters degrees in electrical engineering (1970 and 1972 respectively). He has also completed post graduate work at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University.

Bert Nordberg is Chairman of Vestas Wind Systems, A/S (Denmark) and director on the Board of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA) (Sweden). Additionally, Mr. Nordberg serves as director on the Board of Kcell Joint Stock Company (Kazakhstan) and as a representative for the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Southern Sweden and as a Member of the Hewlett Packard Communications, Media & Entertainment Board of Industry Advisors (USA).

Mr. Nordberg was Chairman of Sony Mobile from May-December 2012. He was President & CEO of Sony Ericsson from October 2009-May 2012. While at Ericsson, Mr. Nordberg held many senior positions including Executive Vice President, Ericsson Group and Head of Ericsson Silicon Valley, based in California, USA.

Mr. Nordberg received degrees in Electronic Engineering from Malmö Tekniska Läroverk in 1978 and as Engineer in the Swedish Marines from Berga, Sweden, in 1980. He has complemented these degrees with courses in International Management and Marketing and Finance at INSEAD University, France.

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By: Unknown On 10:51 PM

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Apple exec Eddy Cue joins Ferrari board of directors, raises hopes for truly high-tech exotic cars

By Jon Fingas posted Nov 7th 2012 4:27PM

Ferrari loves to extol the advances found in its drivetrains, but the unspoken rule is that its interior technology leaves something to be desired; unless you're thinking of a 458's manettino, even a less expensive car like the Tesla Model S is virtually in another league. The automaker may be narrowing that gap by putting Apple online lead Eddy Cue on the Ferrari board of directors. Without giving too much away, Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo points to Cue's experience with the "dynamic, innovative world of the internet" as the motivation -- as good a sign as any that the Maranello team wants to take connected cars seriously. Whenever the Apple Senior VP's experience comes into full effect, we may see one of the few supercar lineups whose cabins are as advanced as the engines. Just don't look for any tight integration with Ferrari-badged Acer gear in the near future.

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By: Dilusha On 11:27 AM

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Sony Network Entertainment prez Tim Schaaff retires, will remain on board of directors

SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT PRESIDENT AND GROUP EXECUTIVE OF
SONY CORPORATION TIM SCHAAFF RETIRES;
REMAINS ON SNEI BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS EXTERNAL DIRECTOR
Sony Corporation Group Executive Andrew House Assumes Responsibilities
(Tokyo, November 8, 2012) - Sony Corporation today announced that Tim Schaaff, President of Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI) and Group Executive of Sony Corporation, will retire as of December 31, 2012. Schaaff will remain on the SNEI board of directors as an external director.

By: Dilusha On 11:06 AM

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