Login to any site you want using a single user identity and password. That, basically, is the main idea of OpenID. The good news is, Google now supports OpenID.
Google announced on 29th October 2008 that they "are allowing websites to join a limited test that will allow single sign-on for Google Account users who visit their websites. Google being an OpenID provider is a welcome development for internet users who are in favor of OpenID usage.
Google announced on 29th October 2008 that they "are allowing websites to join a limited test that will allow single sign-on for Google Account users who visit their websites. Google being an OpenID provider is a welcome development for internet users who are in favor of OpenID usage.
"Currently, users are required to create individual passwords for many websites they visit, but users would prefer to avoid this step so they could visits websites more easily. Similarly, many websites on the Internet have asked for a way to enable users to log into their sites without forcing them to create another password. If users could log into sites without needing another password, it would allow websites to provide a more personalized experience to their users."
With two giants (Microsoft and Google) supporting OpenID, users will not anymore have a hard time registering and logging-in to websites.
This latest development has gathered positive viewbacks, this one among them:
"Great work guys! This is a huge win for OpenID!" is what AllenTomDude commented in Google Code Blog.
However, there are also those who have comments on OpenID in the negative; like what mqudsi pointed out:
"xxx OpenID is absolutely useless if each site just works as an authentication server but doesn't accept logins from other OpenID providers...we're back where we started with a million different logins for a million different sites unless someone bites the bullet and lets users log in with accounts initially registered on a different OpenID server!"
More and more feedbacks like these will come out in a few days when users find out this development on the internet.
In my own personal point of view, Google's support to OpenID will be generally beneficial. Of course, they will still have to iron out security issues in this regard. One thing a user (specially those who are not superusers) must do, if the OpenID system is fully implemented and therefore adopted by website owners, is to carefully choose where they're going to. Using one username and password on almost any website could be a security risk, but hopefully something will come out of the box through research for the protection of internet users.