What can you use the application for?
While Internet and e-commerce have made life convenient by providing easy online access to many facilities and services, it has at the same time produced a unique problem for many of its users. For each nearly every other site, a user has to create a digital identity and then remember those distinct IDs and passwords even when these sites belong to the same organization. OpenID is a mechanism which allows the use of a single URL for logging in to multiple sites. Clickpass is one of the leading players belonging to this niche. With most of the work increasingly being done online today, like payment of bills, checking bank or salary accounts, shopping, the use of something like Clickpass can help people heave a sigh of relief. It works equally well for businesses also. Business owners can do away with the cumbersome and time consuming task of password management and maintaining user accounts.
Clickpass has simplified the use of OpenID to extreme extents and has made it more accessible. It scraps the need to remember even a single URL. Instead the user can simply click on the "Clickpass button", that appears on its partnering websites (Plaxo, Magnolia, Wordpress etc.) to gain access to them. It also works automatically to fill up the user information on new websites where he wishes to sign up. With privacy checks in place, simple working mechanism, no need to remember any passwords or even the URL; Clickpass is something to look out for. It is one such service in its domain that has earned the repute of making OpenID easy, accessible, transparent and popular.
What is the history and popularity of the application?
Clickpass was launched in March, 2008. It is a privately held company with its headquarters situated in CA, United States. Its efforts to simplify the use of OpenID soon came to recognition and so far the site has been well received. Peter Nixey and Immad Akhund are the two young founders of the service.
What are the differences to other applications?
Clickpass has been successful in simplifying the use of OpenID to an extent which other services could not. No need even to remember one common URL for logging onto multiple sites is something that comes across as a pleasant surprise for people. By using Clickpass, access to numerous websites is just a click away. Also, its feature to autofill the signing-up information is quite useful. However, some issues yet remain to be addressed. It does not have mechanisms to deal with phishing attacks. Yet, its user friendly features have helped it tread far ahead of simply being an OpenID issuer.
How does the application look and feel to use?
Clickpass is one of the most straight-forward and elegantly designed websites. The layout is simple and clean. Mostly grey and orange colors have been used which appear soothing to the eye. Navigation is equally simple. Information has been put up in easily understandable words and jargons have been avoided. The entire site is well organized and presents a calm look.
How does the registration process work?
The sign-up button appears on the homepage itself. The first step requires one's email and password and the second step asks the user to choose a user name. After that, either a new account can be created on the supported websites or the user can integrate an existing one with Clickpass. Once this integration is done and a profile is created, the user can simply log-on to the sites by the click of a button. The entire registration process finishes up quickly, extracts minimum of information and is uncomplicated.
What does it cost to use the application?
Registering with Clickpass and availing all the associated services come for free. Moreover, the service is free for other websites also. There are no advertisements or subscription fees. The company is privately held and venture-funded.
Who would you recommend the application to?
These days it is common for people to have more than one online account. Clickpass provides such a functionality that can be helpful to anybody who has been juggling with multiple accounts as it simplifies their management. In today's time, it is suggested to practically everyone using the web and dealing with several accounts.