Yahoo throws weight behind OpenID standard

In one of the most significant moves yet in the growing push toward service interoperability on the Web, tech giant Yahoo announced Thursday that it is supporting the OpenID 2.0 standard for a universal Internet log-in.

No matter what your views of Yahoo's current stability may be, this is undoubtedly a big victory for OpenID. Not so long ago, the protocol was considered a dot-com/futurist pipe dream. OpenID was created by Web 2.0 guru Brad Fitzpatrick, who founded LiveJournal and was brought on board at Google last year as one of the most prominent players in its OpenSocial developer initiative.

OpenID is designed to facilitate single log-ins for multiple unaffiliated Web sites. Gradually, large sites like AOL and Plaxo have begun supporting the standard, but it remains a tool for the Web's early-adopter set rather than the online community at large.

But recently, fueled by debate over social-networking interoperability, universal standards have been one of the most buzzed-about subjects in Web 2.0.

Yahoo, which counts its registered users at 248 million worldwide, says that supporting OpenID will mean that OpenID-compatible accounts are available to a total of 368 million Web users. When Yahoo's support of OpenID goes live, starting with a public beta launch on January 30, this will mean that a Yahoo ID can be consolidated into an OpenID account that will be valid at all partner sites.

On the flip side, sites that accept OpenID will have the option of displaying a "Sign in with your Yahoo ID" button.

As more major Web players start to sign onto OpenID--and more casual Internet users start using the standard--there will inevitably be security concerns raised. Since OpenID has no central repository for identity management, users can choose which sites they trust with their OpenIDs. But that doesn't mean they're going to always make the right decisions. Sometime in the not-so-distant future, an incident or two will likely surface that will call into question just what universal standards mean for privacy and personal security on the Web.

This is an area to watch.

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D-Link Announces Dual Mode, Wi-Fi Phone

D-Link has announced a new line of 'V-CLICK' dual-mode phones that allow users to switch between cellular and Wi-Fi networks with the click of a button.



By sliding a cellular service provider's SIM Smartcard or chip into the V-CLICK phone, the user automatically gains GSM access. Stored phone numbers and address books are also automatically taken into the phone via the SIM Smartcard or chip.



Measuring in at 4.17x1.73x.75 inches, featuring a two-inch 176x220 pixel color screen and 24 MB storage, the V-CLICK phones support Opera Mobile, a mobile browser for logging into Wi-Fi hot spots, web surfing and email functionality



In addition to operating like regular cell phones that communicate within a nationwide wireless network, D-Link V-CLICK phones can switch to the 802.11 wireless mode and connect to lower-cost Internet telephone services.

"D-Link's involvement in dual-mode technology is the next step to evolving wireless phone communication," said Steven Joe, president and CEO of D-Link Systems, Inc. "Similar to our popular flip-style Wi-Fi phone, the V-CLICK phones are open and unlocked.

"We view the V-CLICK phone model as the ideal way for us to meet the ever-increasing demand from both consumers and business for a mobile device that allows for easy transition from wide-reaching cellular services to the much faster Wi-Fi and more affordable VoIP technologies," Joe added. "The market for dual-mode phones looks very promising, and the more than 10 years we've had in researching and developing 802.11 wireless and VoIP technologies make this a natural extension of our product offerings."

For regular cell phone coverage, the D-Link V-CLICK phones will be 'unlocked', allowing users to use their existing SIMs and pre-paid SIMs from traditional GSM cellular service providers anywhere in the world. Users can also activate a configurable wireless and SIP profile. Multiple profiles are available that make usage between home and office automatic.

D-Link V-CLICK phones will be a "pay-as-you-go" device, allowing users to purchase call time from service providers that will load up the phone's SIM card.

The phones will ship during the first quarter of 2007 and will feature tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900 Mhz) and 802.11 Wi-Fi (2.4Ghz) access. The phones will be avilable through the company's network of resellers, solution providers and distributors, and online at www.dlinkshop.com. Manufacturer's suggested retail price is expected to be $599.99.

D-Link also plans to offer accessories for its new dual-mode phone products.

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