This sounds like it's expanding identity management from the authentication piece that projects such as OpenID and Shibboleth tackle to explore a richer version of identity.Later today Google is going to preview Friend Connect (it's not live yet at http://www.google.com/friendconnect), a product that lets any website host OpenSocial applications. These applications will enable a site's user to interact with their social network from other sites (assuming they are logged in). Initially users will be able to see their networks from Facebook (using their APIs), Google Talk, and Orkut. Future participants will include hi5 and plaxo.
Initially Google will be letting websites in slowly. Upon acceptance webmasters will be able to submit their website (URL and name) and select colors. They can then select applications for their site from a new application gallery.
The user experience is simple. When a user comes to a site in the Friend Connect program they can sign into any social network that is sharing their data. Their data is not actually shared with the site. Impressively Google is supporting OpenID and OAuth in addition to their own standard OpenSocial.
But is it a good idea?
I struggle a little bit with the detailed information that Plaxo can put together with the information it gets from major sources. Do I really want smaller sites without any sort of corporate accountability to be able to tap into the data-rich environment that I leave in my wake? Or should I trust them more than I do corporate entities?
I fully believe that for all practical purposes privacy is dead, but I'm not so sure I want to make it that easy.
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