Use OpenID & CardSpace at Opinity

We're very happy to announce that you can now use both OpenID and Microsoft's CardSpace at Opinity.

This means that if you have established an OpenID--for instance, through Verisign PIP or LiveJournal--you can use that OpenID to log in to Opinity and to control your personal profile. Also, if you have created an information card through Microsoft's CardSpace, you can also use it in the same ways.

Is doing either of these things a little bit geeky? You bet.

Using CardSpace, in particular, requires installing the latest version of .Net Framework 3.0 and Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1--these are big downloads and require a fairly lengthy installation process that can go wrong. Getting an OpenID, on the other hand, merely requires signing up for one. Then you have to sign on at Opinity and install your OpenID or information card.

Why bother? Well, there's the inherent geekiness, but there's also the satisfaction of doing some modest time travel--of being one of the first to adopt these technologies before they've become widespread. It also means helping build the new identity metasystem, which I think is pretty cool. Both OpenID and CardSpace do work, and it's kind of a gas to see them in action.

Later on, of course, you'll be ready as lots of sites begin to use both technologies. You'll have your OpenID URL and your CardSpace information cards and be ready to roll. Meanwhile, back at Opinity we'll be issuing multiple identifiers based on both OpenID and CardSpace, and they'll be tied to your Opinity profile, which can be your central control point for online identity, under your control.

Finally, as other identity technologies are implemented, Opinity will support them as well, and they will also be linked to your Opinity profile.

In short, we're tuning up for the identity metasystem, and we hope you'll join us. Go here and join up.