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In addition to a spiffy new DataPortability Project logo, the fifth episode of the DataPortability: In-Motion Podcast explores data portability with Jonathan Vanasco. As the CEO of FindMeOn.com and founder of the Open SN interchange format, he brings an interesting historical perspective to the discussion.

His company was on the ground and selling the data portability vision in 2006, and met with significant resistence by the same players embracing the DataPortability Project today. He talks about the approach taken by the Open SN specification, touching on the unfortunate naming collision with OpenSocial (with which there is no relationship). Beyond the technical details how FindMeOn.com leverages the format (ie. key-signed trusted relationship sharing), the story itself is worth hearing from an early advocate.

Of note is Jonathan’s quote about the resistance he encountered back in 2006 and where we are today:

It was like this very weird cultural shift, where almost overnight people went from data portability is absolutely evil to we love data portability. Cultural shifts always happen, but I’m still absolutely amazed at how fast it happened. Usually people warm up to ideas like this over a year or two, but this was kind of like an overnight thing.

Update: Jonathan posted a follow-up to the interview expanding on the discussion. It’s a great augmentation to the conversation.

Leading into the discussion, we hit some top-level news:

1. DataPortability 6-Month Report
2. New DataPortability Logo
3. DataSharing Summit Recap
4. Web 2.0 Expo Update
5. Mahalo adds microformats
6. Forrester: Social network tools to drive $4.6B industry by 2013
7. NewsGator releases Inbox 3.0
8. MySpace Gallery Application is live

Episode 5: Listen | Comment
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Episode Length: 0:28:51