You can now sign-up or log-in on Ziki using the OpenID authentication standard.

Not sure what OpenID is and want to know more? Please read the what the blogosphere says on Technorati or a detailed explanation on Wikipedia. In short:

“OpenID is a decentralized system to verify one’s online identity. While it is not intended to prevent spam or create a trust metric, it solves the single sign-on problem without relying on any centralized website to confirm digital identity. OpenID users identify themselves with a URI or XRI which they own, such as for a blog or a home page. Since OpenID is decentralized, any website can employ OpenID software as a way for users to sign in.”

In plain English it means that anyone with an OpenID account can create a Ziki without going through the usual boring and time-consuming process of filling-out the required fields; most of them will be automatically completed.

In our first implementation we authorize the authentication on Ziki through an external OpenID account. Later on we are planning to deploy our own OpenID servers so the URL of your profile becomes your OpenID profile. Again, with this solution you will not have to enter over and over the same information every time you sign-up for a new service.

You can also watch this video, which is very detailed.