[OpenID] A selector for OpenID

[Brian Ellin]

Hello OpenID Folks,

Working at JanRain, the recurring stories we hear when talking with
website operators about adding relying party support is "our users
won't understand URL as an identifier", or "we're waiting until it's
easier".

Using all the feedback we've received while developing OpenID related
products,  we developed a widget that we think addresses many of the
usability issues surrounding OpenID.  We're hoping you'll take a look
and provide feedback to help us make it better.

It's a widget (https://www.openidselector.com/) that you add to the
existing OpenID login form on your relying party website.   It's all
about getting users signed into your website as quickly and
efficiently as possible, and achieves this by providing a simple,
consistent, provider neutral interface, all while educating  the user
about OpenID during the process.  It hooks into your already
functional OpenID login form, and enhances it with a little bit of
javascript.

(See attached screenshot)

The first time a user sees the widget (at your site or any other
site), it helps them choose an OpenID provider at which they may
already have an account.   If the user doesn't have an account at any
of the services listed, they simply click the "Get an OpenID" or the
"Help" links, both of which are configurable by you.   You can also
customize which OpenID providers appear in the widget and in what
order they are presented.

When a user returns to your website, or any other site that uses the
widget, their OpenID is filled in for them automatically for a "one
click" login experience.  If you choose to use different OpenIDs at
different websites, it remembers that too.

Also, it's smart and knows the capabilities of your relying party and
the OpenID providers, so that it won't lead your user down a dead end.
 For example, if your RP only supports OpenID 1.x right now, it won't
show 2.0 only providers in the list.

We pre-populated the widget with the providers from
http://openid.net/get, but any OpenID provider may be added to the
widget.  Details are here:
https://www.openidselector.com/partners

It's a beta, and we're hoping you'll give it a try and provide
feedback to help make it better!

Thanks,
Brian Ellin
JanRain, Inc.
brian at janrain.com
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