OpenID Foundation Japan hosted the OpenID TechNight #4 at GINZA Apple Store on the 10th of February. I went there to attend it straight from Narita Airport.

Almost 120 peopel, which is 1.5 times the capacity of the hall came to attend it.
So, many people were standing, sitting on the isle, etc.

It simply shows the popularity and high interest rate against OpenID in Japan.

We need to capitalize it now because consumer interest will not last.

The lecture was given by tkudo and =zigorou.

After the event, some of us including the both lecturer flocked for a “drink” session, and much talk was done over the mobile profile of OpenID. =zigorou working for one of the largest mobile content provider, and there was another guy from one of the largest Japanese mobile carrier in it. I have recently started a thread on it at specs@openid.net, but I need to push it further. The problem is… I do not have time. Oh well… Is there someone who want to help?!

On Feb. 6, 2009, we had a meeting for OpenID Denmark.

The programme was as follows:

PROGRAM

13.00-13.15 Welcome and Introduction
13.15-13.45 Basics about OpenID and alternative SingleSignOn solutions (Martin Strandbygaard)
13.45-14.15 OpenID Market Development and Use Cases in Japan (Nat Sakimura)

14.15-14.30 Break

14.30-15.00 Status, Opportunities and Roadmap for OpenID (Nat Sakimura)
15.00-15.30 DK User Study: How do non-technical users perceive SingleSignOn (Henrik Biering)
15.30-16.00 Discussion: What is needed to promote the use of OpenID in Denmark?

It had an attendance from wide range of industry including a credit card processors to the national broadcasting corporation.

OpenID in Denmark is just starting, but when combined with its National ID infrastructure, which is going to be in a new version later this year, it has a potential to leap frog most of us. It is worth watching how it is going to evolve.

As of Jan. 1, 2009, apparently, Republic of Lithuania went OpenID. All the Personal ID Card that the Republic of Lithuania issues has OpenID in addition to X.509 in it. Lithuanian government is also going to provide a state run OpenID provider, which is under testing right now.

Congratulations Lithuania!

It’s a kind of pity that I did not know it couple of weeks ago because otherwise I could also have planned to visit Lithuania in this Europe tour.

The original article is in http://openid.net/pipermail/eu/2009-February/000280.html