Towards A Unique World-wide Digital Certificate

This paper discusses the importance of a unique digital certificate for the world wide use of public-key infrastructure and the impact such a unique digital certificate will have on the players. First, the basic concepts of public -key infrastructure are presented. Special interest is put on the concepts important for the use of identity-based digital certificates. Then, an overview of the Austrian situation in the international context is given and the key factors for the success of digital certificates are presented. Digital certificates There is a broad range of applications for digital certificates: electronic banking, electronic payment systems, e-mail communication, identification in communication with public authorities (e.g. tax declaration, court documents, electronic passports, public health service, etc.), electronic contracts, selective web access, selective database access, etc. In this context, several questions come up: . Which players will provide the future infrastr...