Real ease-of-use with hCard

When we launched the new NSCU.com site back in June, we deployed hCard support on our Contact Us page. Deploying the microformat was easy for Dan and Stuart and even though it is not used a lot, it’s a nice progressive touch that makes it easier for customers to grab our contact details and add it to their address book. If you don’t use hCard you likely didn’t even notice we added it 🙂

Recently I came across a great use of hCard to reduce the need to create another profile. At Satisfaction, the sign-up page uses hCard to let you signup using an existing profile (e.g. Twitter, Upcoming, Technorati, Flickr, Last.FM, or one of your choosing), thus reducing the need to jump through a complicated signup.

I wonder if someday we’ll see a similar, yet secure way to access your accounts. Leveraging hCard, OpenID or other standards? Wouldn’t that be great if you could check your balance, send a twit to a friend for some money you owe or pay a bill and archive the receipt on Flickr.