Windows Phone Thoughts: Keeping Your Identity (and Everything Else) Safe Using Spb Wallet 1.0

Synchronization
When you create a wallet, Spb Wallet asks you if you want to set up synchronization for it with the desktop (or PDA). If you say yes, it creates a new synchronization category for ActiveSync, so the synchronization cycle is the same as that for the other categories of ActiveSync, dependent upon the setting you've chosen.


Figure 23: Synchronization of Spb Wallet is done through Activesync.

Spb Wallet synchronizes not only the contents of the wallet (i.e. your cards), but also any new templates which you have created and/or modified.

Smart Cards
Spb Wallet also supports what they call Smart Cards in that the information provided on the cards can be used to link directly with other applications/functions on the PPC. For instance, by tapping and holding on a field in the card, the data can be copied to the clipboard for pasting into other applications. If a phone number is displayed on the card or in one of the associated fields, tapping on the number will initiate a call to that number (on a PPC Phone edition). Similarly, tapping on an email or SMS address will initialize a message and tapping on a URL will start up Pocket IE, linking to the appropriate website.

Password Generator
Like all other ewallet applications, Spb Wallet requires each wallet to be password protected for security. Spb Wallet's password requester goes a bit further than others I've seen, in that it provides an evaluation of the strength of the password provided as it is being built.


Figure 24: Evaluating your password as it's typed in.

There are 3 levels of password protection evaluated – weak, medium, and strong. Just typing in all letters with no uppercase will get you a 'Weak' rating. By including a number, I was able to move it up to the 'Medium'. I didn't bother trying for 'Strong', but I would guess that would require inclusion of upper and lower-case, numbers and/or special symbols.

There is also a password generator function available, if you can't think of your own.


Figure 25: Spb Wallet generating a password for you. I don't think I could easily remember one of these – even with a hint.