We first jumped on the OpenID bandwagon back in 2007 when it was seen as a promising way to make logging into websites simpler. What we've learned over the past three years is that it didn't actually make anything any simpler for the vast majority of our customers. Instead it just made things harder. Especially when people were having problems with the often flaky OpenID providers and couldn't log into their account. OpenID has been a burden on support since the day it was launched.
The original selling point for using OpenID with 37signals applications is gone as well. OpenID used to be the only way to get single sign-on across all our applications and to get the Open Bar application-switcher across the top. Today we have 37signals ID that provides the same functionality with none of the headaches.
Fewer than 1% of all 37signals users are currently using OpenID. After consulting with a fair share of them, it seems that most were doing so only because that used to be the only way to get single sign-on for our applications.
Much has been written about the usability and reliability problems facing OpenID. Some of the better ones are OpenID Is A Nightmare by Rob Conery and the What's wrong with OpenID? thread on Quora. No need to repeat all that here.
If you're currently using OpenID with our products, it's very simple to switch to 37signals ID. Just go to your My info screen, click "Edit your personal information", and then click the "Or use a normal username" link underneath your OpenID field. Then you'll get to pick a regular username and password. If you have multiple accounts linked to the old OpenID, they'll all automatically be updated to use your new username.
We encourage you to switch to your new 37signals ID before May 1, 2011. After that date you'll be forced to switch when you try to login.
We're sad to see OpenID go. The promise was grand. Life would be simpler if we only had one login, but in this case, the cure was worse than the disease.
