This is an interesting article from e-week.com describing the use of SAML to enable single sign-on to Google Apps.  It fairly accurately reflects the world we all live in with a mixed economy of a Microsoft Active Directory infrastructure, VMWare, an Identity Management solution from an independent company (Sxip), web based applications from Google Apps all glued together with an open standard through SAML.   To me, a very sensible rather than purist approach to making the most of standards.

It also prompted me to download Sxipper.  This is a Firefox plug-in for managing identity information and access credentials, and also an OpenID provider.  Looks interesting…but have not had a chance to properly play with yet.