I’m always leery of depending on third-party stuff, but this seems pretty nice, and if it’s set up right, even if Gigya goes away (which, looking at their client list, doesn’t seem likely), I reckon it wouldn’t cripple our BP sites in any way.
I can’t speak for this particular company but there are good and bad things for this sort of approach. I’m limited on time right now but my concern is like you say the dependancy on a third party.
For a site I’m working on, I’m utilising profile autodiscovery techniques with the account stored locally.
Why cant we get openID working instead !
My first thought would be: why ‘instead’?
My second thought would be: geeks and techies and developers know about OpenID (and it confuses me, even, to be honest). Your average normal person doesn’t know OpenID from a hole in the ground, but they sure as heck know how to log in to their Facebook or Twitter account.
This looks very interesting because right now there are plugins for facebook, twitter etc, but this one combines social networks and makes it a breeze for people to invite friends from other social networks to your BP site.. I would be willing to pay for something like that in BuddyPress 
I’m a huge geek… and I have no idea what Open ID is.
I too think this looks very appealing. What is the consensus solution going forward for being able to allow user registration (on your BP/WPMU blog) with existing social network credentials like Facebook or Twitter? It seems to me like there isn’t one at the moment.
Is anyone (or perhaps a group of devs) working on this specifically? It just doesn’t seem sustainable to ask users to create accounts everywhere they go ad infinitum. Something’s going to have to give. Seems like a great opportunity for some solid, entrepreneurial developers!
Oh yeah, and what’s Open ID?
My bp allows anyone to register with twitter, facebook, myspace, google, windowslive, openid, aol, blah, blah, blah with rpxnow plugin.
I remember trying that and not having it work the way it ought to have, but I can’t remember why.
I’ll look at it again, maybe. Care to share any tips on getting it working, socialpreneur, or is it doing everything you want straight out of the box?
Hmmph. Keeps telling me ‘an error occurred’ in the WP dashboard when trying to enter my API key from RPXnow. Ah well, I’ll have a look later.
I have RPXnow running on my localsite.. It allows you to login using social networks. but I don’t see any other options then that.. I’ll look further into it.. socialpreneur have you used it for anything more then simply signing in (posting status updates to social network or inviting friends?)
Thanks for sharing regarding RPXNOW. After a quick review, I think their model will probably keep them around, but I’m concerned about the limited functionality at the free level. Most of it requires $10/mo. or more https://rpxnow.com/get. Gigya’s model seems to allow them to provide a free service with much more customization and features. The fact they have many major partners also suggests staying power. http://www.gigya.com/public/Content/GS/Implementation.aspx. THey even have an interesting toolbar, but I probably won’t use it.
Unless something changes, I’m leaning toward gigya. However, there are issues. Last I checked, they were just finishing the MU version of their plugin (even though some had gotten the .org version working). Also, the biggest complaint I saw was an inability to restrict people from creating multiple logins with each of their identities (e.g. Yahoo, Google). Also, getting users to fill out detailed profiles was more problematic. I would want to see these addressed (although I don’t see how the former could be addressed technologically).
Regarding OpenID, as with the liquor store, allowing multiple forms of payment is a must. Cash only will restrict customers.
Here’s an example of what I’m trying to accomplish using BPContents plugin to create member categories and Gigya to allow facebook and twitter registration http://www.reverbnation.com/controller/main/signup
From what I remember, BP Contents doesn’t allow you to setup member categories…
BP contents does work with Members, but users simply select which tags they want to associate with themselves. That’s not what I’m after. I may use that or a plugin like Members and/or Role Scoper to define capabilities and then have a separate register link for each type and assign registrants to that role.
I know OPENID is complex for normal user, however down the road most host site will use it.
Even the government ” Welcoming the government to the OpenID Community “
http://openid.net
@designodyssey, if you can create the BPContents with Gigya features that would be good!
Seems Gigya does work with BP 1.2 on WordPress. Only thing it would require is to modify avatar section so it can display yahoo avatar if linked just as facebook connect does. And display log in button with default buddypress login box.
@zvhipp, Does it work fully and any pit-falls?
@designodyssey That login section looks good,does it run wordpressMU?
http://www.reverbnation.com/controller/main/signup
yes, it works perfectly. Only 2 things need to be adjusted, like gigya login widget needs to be hidden once logged in, as after logging in it shows logout button in its widget also. And Avatar, if account is linked with yahoo, facebook etc, avatars need to be pulled from it instead default one. In gigya widget it shows avatar, but default buddypress doesn’t update to same.
@Gpo1 I don’t know what that site runs. I found it linking from a gigya showcase
@zvhipp Thanks for the update on a working GIgya. They have a new release of the plugin in recent days.
@zvhipp, Can users create blogs etc & where do you get the plugin or widget?
Any screen shots..
I used it on WordPress, not WordPress MU, however I had tried for short time just to see if it registers users on WordPress MU, and It did, but further than that I have no knowledge of it.
On WordPress, it works fine, just for regular plugin search install gigya and good to go, It will register users fine and allow them to create profiles , wire, messages all stuff. Just this avatar like facebook connect, gravatar brings in wordpress, Gigya is not able to do default way, however in gigya login widget it does show it. Just minor tweaks guess it will require and good to go.
I have it loaded and it works for creating users but I’m debating on where and how to include the login field. I’d like to take it off and disable wp-login.php and have it added to the bp register page but I’m still not quite sure if that will work and still have them fill out their profile fields. Any suggestions? Also, if anyone knows what code needs to be put on the register template to include the same gigya login box that appears on the wp-login.php, i’d be really grateful.
@symm2112
I’m looking to do something similar in having login/register on the same page. That should be simple, but not sure about the profile fields piece. I’m need to implement different registrations for different “types” of users. I can do this with different pages with hidden input fields. Not sure how to work this with different profile questions yet though. Keep us abreast of your progress.
@Symm2112, @designodyssey Does it fully work for BP and why not have pop-up option for gigya login,am not should if you understand me!
