Forum Moderators: rogerd
Today I'm pleased to announce that Microsoft has partnered with some of the world’s top social networks on contact data portability. Starting today, we will be working with Facebook, Bebo, Hi5, Tagged and LinkedIn to exchange functionally-similar Contacts APIs, allowing us to create a safe, secure two-way street for users to move their relationships between our respective services. Along with these collaborations, Microsoft is introducing a new website at www.invite2messenger.net that people can visit to invite their friends from our partner social networks to join their Windows Live Messenger contact list.
Microsoft Signs Social Networking Deals On Data Portability [dev.live.com]
This is a significant step which needs significant thought. What ARE the privacy issues here? This step means that data probably can and will be transported across partner networks, but only at the blessing of the users. the problem, though, is that life may become like living without a social security number if you try to avoid opting in to the data.
Times, they are a changing for sure.
Do walled-gardens still have a place in the modern internet?
Maybe vCard?
[w3.org...]
But then we have to consider MSFT is getting their fingers into the deal, and their fingers are usually in only one place --- our pockets.
