Unique Usernames vs. Email Addresses - What does this mean for OpenID?

[Joshua Viney]

Dick, thanks for your reply.

On Nov 12, 2006, at 5:58 PM, Dick Hardt wrote:

Here is a screen shot on how a site that is taking both existing  
accounts, OpenID and InfoCards could prompt the user. If the user  
does not understand InfoCard or OpenID, they will ignore the right  
hand side. (hopefully this email looks ok to others, looks nice on my  
Mac right now! :-)

After some serious thought, I am leaning away from the idea that  
OpenID should support email addresses as an alternative. Make OpenID  
different so it stands out and users remember it. There is a  
usability concept that says something to the effect: "If you're gonna  
make change, make a big one". Make it so users notice it. The OpenID  
experience needs to be brand-able so users will know what to do when  
they see the OpenID icon, or at least they'll be prompted to find out  
more about it. I attached a quick and dirty of a "smart" sign in/reg  
box that incorporates an interesting concept but relies on all ID  
formats being unique.

As you pointed out, sites will have an existing user population, and  
as those users get either an OpenID, iname or InfoCard, how will they  
link them together, and also, how could they change or add additional  
identifiers. Here is a screen shot of . Clearly a more user friendly  
view on the left column would be needed, but as you can see, the user  
can add additional identifiers and/or delete existing ones for the  
account. One of those could be the existing username/password  
combination.

Is this referring to an RP's implementation? Because it will take  
pretty significant buy-in from RP's to make these changes. Granted,  
that might be the price they pay for wanting access to users of IdP's  
(OpenID, CardSpace, etc.).

I have to ask the question of all questions. Why would any existing  
high-traffic membership site want to implement OpenID?

I have a little experience managing a few membership/subscription  
sites (20,000 + registrations/day), and I can't quite see the  
business motivation unless implementing OpenID could guarantee more  
memberships or increase conversion. There may be some technical  
appeal to not having to manage member data, but remember that for  
membership sites each piece of information gathered is considered an  
asset.

Can someone give me the elevator pitch? I see the possibilities on  
the horizon, but I want to know what it can do for us now.

Josh Viney
http://www.eastmedia.com -- EastMedia
http://identity.eastmedia.com -- OpenID, Identity 2.0




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