MWS as OpenID Server/Host

Maybe the last post was a bit premature. Since SIM cards are so small in size, I wonder how feasable it would be to turn the Presence page of any MWS site into the landing page for an OpenID Server? If you will, instead of hooking one’s OpenID to 3rd party services, they could two part that connection of the ID to a mobile device (w/SIM verification and security) as well as a 3rd party site (email, domain, etc.).

Would add a needed layer of security into online IDs, but might make some sites and people more traceable than others. Depending on some answers from Forum Nokia’s MWS Discussion Board, I’ll hopefully be able to try and pull this off. Would make for a nice solution, or at least a nice step towards pulling all those site IDs together.

EDIT/ADD: I guess this is what I get for being up so late and having these kinds of ideas. This post became a fully fleshed-out idea posted to ideas.symbian. Here’s hoping that it merits the kind of attention that gets things moving for the MWS.

I really hope this idea catches on. It makes too much sense.

A Mobile Server on Borrowed Time

I really don’t like these moments. But, its a reality that I have to face and plan for. At some point, in probably the next year, I’ll have to move on from the mobile web server.

I had the thought as I (finally) got to reviewing the big PDF from Nokia’s Capital Markets Day event which was earlier this month. As I looked at the extremely high level and lenghty set of slides, it became very clear that what I’m trying to do with the MWS is indeed on the right track. But, how I’m using it is no where near what will be supported later – and what will be supported will be closer to what I’d like in some respects, not so much in others.

One issue is simply the software itself. Unless I can learn how to build the Racoon server from scratch, I’ll have no direct means of simply running the MWS in a future Symbian device. Granted, it would be great if the Symbian Foundation took this project and really ran with it – but that’s asking a lot. As a user, and one really into this platform, that’s kind of my job to evangelize and develop.

Then there’s just the idea of what’s possible. Like I said this past weekend, I don’t want to engage within any more websites that ask me to create profiles and such. I’ve got a profile page/social graph, and would frankly like to allow services to connect to it and then broker my connection across the communities and services. There really should be no need for me to make profiles – nor have something like OpenID. I’ve got the server and the ability to create that myself ya know – so let’s just leverage it.

It would be a shame to see these posts go. And in terms of that digital junk we keep, it would probably be better to save it to a few memory cards and let it go when that time comes. But, there’s always this sobering feeling when the mortality of technology comes to light. Sure, one can deny it and push towards irrelevance and religious fervor. But the better solution is to accept that death is a part of life, and allow the technology’s lessons to embed something else with a sense of sensibility.

Carnival of the Mobilists: #203

The last time that I hosted the Carnival, I weaved this story about a person who stumbles upon the carnival in the middle of a field (mobile as discovery). Well, no need to go that route this time as I think that there a compelling enough storyline throughout this edition to keep you tuned into this week’s posts.

For starters, Ajit Jaokar from Open Gardens talks about his nomination to the World Economic Forum’s The Future of the Internet Council which also has a short survey asking what you see as possibilities for the Internet and mobile at large in the near-future.

Ernest Doku checks in from Omio with what is hands-down my call for post of the week with his entry asking if social networking on mobile devices is esoteric or essential?

Mark Jaffe must have been sitting on the same row as I for this carnival as both of our submissions look at the idea of mobile phones and retail. Mark’s post asks whether mobiles will replace the in-store retail salespeople, while I ask if mobile’s impact turns the expectation for retail environments into engagement spaces.

Jose Colucci continues on the mobile & business angle with a look at some mobile strategies for small businesses. I hope that small businesses can really get behind this idea.

Tomi Ahonen checks in with this week’s lengthiest post, part one of his series looking at mobile characteristics in business and media formats being that its a new media platform. Its a good post, but you might want to grab some Cracker Jacks with this one.

Caroline Lewko from WIP Jam Sessions’ entry accents Tomi’s piece really well in that it talks about how open innovation is getting a failing grade with mobile developers. For all that we can do towards postulating about what mobile can do, when developers can’t make it happen (easily), then innovations just don’t come to pass.

Peggy Salz and the MSearchGroove team gives what can only be the best response to the previous CotM entries for this week – being open to feedback is essential, especially in mobile (immediacy is one of mobile’s defining characteristics). This post highlights a podcast with the Digital Youth Project and a mobile executive. Ear-opening, to say the least.

Chetan Sharma from Always on Real-time Access recaps the Second Mobile Breakfast Series event where there is some executive feedback happening, as well as some real-talk towards addressing the consumer experience, marketing speak, and technological hurdles within the mobile/networking space. Hopefully, there can be something that changes, else pieces about the mobile industry – such as what was published in the last Mobile Industry Review Newsletter – are going to come more often, and from those who are willing to move faster towards changing mobile and its connected services for the better for all.

What do you know; those posts circle back around to the Open Gardens piece that started this week’s Carnival of the Mobilists. Guess I got a bit of traveling story into this week’s Carnival after all (mobile as engagement).

Thanks for visiting with this week’s Carnival of the Mobilists (#203). If you’d like to contribute a post for the Carnival, send your post to the CotM Email account. If you’d like to host, the 2010 Host Schedule is up, so do get your request in for that as well.

Next week’s Carnival is going to be the last one for 2009. It will be over at London Calling and I’m sure that it will be a smashing end to a great year for the Carnival. Thanks again for visiting, see you under the tent next time.

*For those looking to link to this post, please use the URL: http://tinyurl.com/cotm-203 (its a lot easier than the URL my mobile web server gives).

Image: Venice Carnival 2, via Stock.Xchng