We recently looked at how to create your own intranet application using the 37signals products. The first step was to get yourself an OpenID. I touched on what OpenID is — a way to use the same credentials to log in to multiple services on the web.

As more services move to using this technology, there will be more people needing accounts. If you don’t yet have one, here is a list of resources where you can get your own.

You May Already Have One

Many services already provide OpenID profiles.

Many current services already provide their users with an OpenID capable account. The services listed above all give you this functionality. And the list is growing quickly — services such as Technorati, Facebook, and MSN have joined in recent months.

Dedicated OpenID Providers

If you want to go a step further and take steps to manage your online identity, there are many services available to create an OpenID. Heck, for those with a flair for the technical, you can even create your own.

The rest of us can choose from one of the following providers to manage our OpenID profile. Click on the image to visit each provider’s page.

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Resources

There is a lot to learn about this technology and many people do have security concerns. If you are interested in learning more, here are some resources that can be of help.

• OpenID.net: the official home of OpenID.
• Spread OpenID: a site dedicated to making OpenID easier to understand and use.
• OpenID Directory: a site dedicated to listing all OpenID providers.
• Wikipedia on OpenID: a nice summary of the history and functionality of OpenID.

Getting started with OpenID can be a little intimidating for some people. Use these resources to get more familiar — the benefits of using a single login are worth it.