Blog news - everyone should read this (please)
Over the next few months bbc.co.uk is upgrading its sign in service to a new, shiny one calledÌýÖ÷²¥´óÐã iD.Ìý Some sites are already using it and the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's blogs are all going to be upgrading next week
Excitingly, because we are veryÌýon-trendÌýand important and stuff,ÌýThe Cut Blog is getting upgraded a bit early - we're moving overÌýtoÌýÖ÷²¥´óÐã iD on Monday 26th Oct, yes, that's thisÌýMonday!Ìý
Basically, all it should mean is that when you log in to comment on Monday, you'll be asked to create an iD account - just follow the instructions and it should all be fine.Ìý Fine and dandy and brilliant.Ìý
As we think you might have a few questions about whatÌýthis means for you, and what you'll have to do on Monday, here areÌýlots ofÌýFAQs from the folk who really know what they're talking about...ÌýÌý
And if you have any problemsÌýsigning in with the new system do email us at thecut@bbc.co.ukÌýand we'll do our best to help out.
Read on for the FAQs...
What is Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD?
Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD is the new sign in system across the Ö÷²¥´óÐã. It's already in use on new sites and services such as iPlayer message board and is currently being rolled out across all other services that require a user to register or sign in.
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The intention is that by March 2010 it'll be the single sign in for all Ö÷²¥´óÐã online services. If you have an existing Ö÷²¥´óÐã membership account for blogs, message boards or other services at some point in the next few months you will need to switch to Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD.
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Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD sounds good. What do I need to do to join?
If you've already got a Ö÷²¥´óÐã membership then it's a fairly simple process. When one of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã sites you regularly sign in to, (eg blogs), switches over to Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD you'll be prompted to create a Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD when you try to log in. Just follow the instructions on screen.
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If you've never had any form of Ö÷²¥´óÐã membership just go to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD homepage to create a Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD. NB: Until the switchover is complete you won't be able to sign in to non-Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD sites with your Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD. (For more help see the FAQ "I've just created a Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD but I can't sign in to some of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's services. Why?")
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What was wrong with the old system?
The membership system we're replacing was built some years ago and it needs to be replaced. It won't support many of the services we expect to introduce in future and it doesn't function as a single sign in system across all of Ö÷²¥´óÐã Online.Ìý We think our new system will provide users with a much more satisfactory experience, though converting from the old system to the new will cause inconvenience, for which we apologise.
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What are the benefits of Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD?
Our aim is to provide users with a single sign on system for all the Ö÷²¥´óÐã services they use across current and new platforms. For example, customisations and preferences you set on the website can be carried across to digital television and mobile services.
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I've just created a Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD but I can't sign in to some of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's services. Why?
Some of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's services are still using the old Ö÷²¥´óÐã membership system and you won't be able to sign into them with a Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD until the service you want to use has moved to Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD.
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This will be between October and the end of February. Each site will be telling its users when it expects to make the change. NB: See the FAQ "My new Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD account won't let me sign into a site that's still using the old sign in system. What should I do?" {link} to find out what you can do.
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My new Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD account won't let me sign into a site that's still using the old membership system. What should I do?
If you'd like to comment or post a message on a site that's still using theÌý Ö÷²¥´óÐã membership system you canÌý use your previous membership details. If you only have a Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD account you can create a separate account to use on sites that haven't switched over to Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD as yet. Do that by going to the site where you'd like to post a comment and click on "Register".Ìý This account will only be needed for a short period and eventually your Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD will work on all Ö÷²¥´óÐã sites.
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I've got lots of Ö÷²¥´óÐã memberships. Can I make them into one Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD?
No. Read the FAQ "I've got more than one Ö÷²¥´óÐã sign in. What are my options?" to find out more.
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I've got more than one Ö÷²¥´óÐã membership. What are my options?
1.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You can choose to migrate one of your Ö÷²¥´óÐã memberships to Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD and use that on all new sites using Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD. Eventually you'll be able to sign in to all Ö÷²¥´óÐã services with one Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD.
2.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You can migrate each account separately and create a new Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD for each one that links to your previous comments and so on. You will need a valid email address for each account.
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I have several Ö÷²¥´óÐã membership accounts that I use depending on where I'm commenting or posting. Can I keep the different nick names that I have?
Yes. As long as you create a different Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD account for each one. You'll need a valid email address for each Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD.
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Can I make changes to my profile when I switch over to Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD?
In the migration process you'll be given the option of creating a display name that will appear on all your future comments and posts as well as on posts you made with your previous Ö÷²¥´óÐã membership.
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If I migrate my Ö÷²¥´óÐã account to the new Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD will my posts and comments be affected?
All previous comments or posts will continue to appear on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã websites. The Ö÷²¥´óÐã membership that you migrated to Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD will still be linked to these comments. Also if you make a change to your Ö÷²¥´óÐã iD profile (eg: If you change your display name) it'll be changed on previous comments that you made using your Ö÷²¥´óÐã membership.
Comment number 1.
At 23rd Oct 2009, fcauznet wrote:ta for the heads-up trev, not sure if it'll majorly affect me though, only sign in to comment on the cut :}
but yeah, i'm sure it will be useful to some and maybe me in the future so.. =]
hope you and vicki have had a good week, OAO x
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)