MySpace is becomming OpenID issuer, which will make them the second largest behind Yahoo!.  But here is the thing, an issuer is only half the puzzle.  In order for OpenID to work you have to allow people without MySpace OpenID’s to log in.  Don’t get me wrong, the more OpenID accounts that are out there the better chance OpenID has to becoming a standard.   When companys like Yahoo! and MySpace simply issue OpenID’s this doesn’t accomplish the goal for which OpenID was created, and thus will eventually kill OpenID and our chances for single sign on accross the web.

TechCrunch also mentions MySpace may be working on an extended OpenID for their Data Availability program.  This is all well and good, but if we start using OpenID for data portablity, doesn’t this need to be build into the standard of OpenID, not as an addon by spacific companys?  If MySpace uses OpenID for their Data Avilability program then I’m going to guess I will need to use my MySpace OpenID to have access to this data and if thats the case, who is next?  Yahoo!, Google, Facebook…this list goes on.  Now I have ten different OpenID’s just so I can have access to all my data.  BOO!

I say if you are going to be a OpenID issuer then you also need to support OpenID logins.  Otherwise your only hurting the other people like me who want OpenID to secceed.  MySpace, Yahoo!…ect stop leaving one let in the water, get on board or swim with the fish, you choose.