First Look at Chi.mp Alpha
Recently we wrote about how Chi.mp is evolving OpenID. The service, which is in a closed Alpha, gives out free .mp domain names, allows a very basic feed aggregator, and is an OpenID provider. We got a chance to check out the service and thought we’d share with you.
Above shows an example of a Chi.mp profile page. This one is from Laurel Boylen, Chi.mp’s community manager. The aggregation of different web services led us to compare Chi.mp to Friendfeed. Chi.mp has much fewer features, but it’s still young.
As you can see above, Chi.mp has three available services: Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr. Friendfeed has 43, plus the ability to post messages directly to Friendfeed. Chi.mp’s approach to aggregation is a little different. Where Friendfeed relies mostly on public feeds, Chi.mp attempts to confirm your identity.
To add Twitter, for example, you either need to include your password or tweet a code that Chi.mp assigns. Both Facebook (shown above) and Flickr require you to give permission for Chi.mp to access your account.
This extra step is probably associated with Chi.mp as an OpenID provider. Each .mp domain hosted with Chi.mp acts as an OpenID login.
The future of identity on the Internet will be less anonymity. Chi.mp is taking a step toward that by being careful that I cannot impersonate someone else. I love feeds and admire the simplicity of Friendfeed using public data, but it makes sense that Chi.mp is taking this direction with the services they offer.
Nevertheless, I expect Chi.mp to add more services. As a site in Alpha, we shouldn’t expect more than a proof of concept, which is what they’ve shown. It’s still not quite OpenID for non-techies, but this is a glimpse of how web identity could evolve.
What do you think of Chi.mp? Are you jonesing for yourname.mp?
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