Open ID, a cool digital discovery

OpenID, founded in 2005, is an online service that allows users to authenticate their ID when accessing online sites. This service allows for users to eliminate logging into one site at a time. Instead, this service allows for one-time log in, which then connects you to all sites you have membership with. From there you will no longer have to create accounts or profiles with other sites. You simply provide the potential site with your OpenID which holds all of your personal identification needed to register for that site.

No one company owns OpenID. Individuals and businessmen/women alike can either participate with OpenID or create their own provider. Sites such as Google, Yahoo and MySpace are some of the many sites that support OpenID for their users. The OpenID Foundation was created in 2007 to ensure the support of the OpenID community and its contributors. Other similar ID authentication providers are ClaimID and myid.net.

With most online sites,usually there is some hassle when registering.With OpenID, the registration process is eliminated;confirmation email is no longer needed,and password protection and recovery. More specifically for business owners, OpenID, like many other authentication providers, shares demographic information, which makes it easier to access this information and market their products/services more effectively to users. It is very simple and easy to use OpenID. If you are a member of any of the previous listed sites, you already have this service. By visiting the website, http://openid.net/ you will see the instructions to access OpenID through those accounts and many more.