This is a follow up to a previous post, but the DataPortability Workgroup has gained some momentum in the past week or so garnering support across the web. This video was just released and does a good job explaining the importance of the DataPortability movement.But why does this matter to marketing folks? Well, for one it means that there a fewer barriers to creating a one on one dialog with our audiences. We have created countless websites where users had to set up accounts and spend time coping over personal info that they have already filled out 100 times before. This sort of standard will help us eliminate the need for our customers to re-enter a lot of information, making it more likely that they will utilize whatever personalization features our sites may offer. In addition, it allows us to create social networking components to a site without having to create a whole social networking architecture. A standardized data platform will allow us to spend less time building the foundation, and more time building functionality that leverages data in a more useful and engaging customer experience.

And speaking as a consumer myself… if I don’t have to fill out another user id / password creation form again it will be too soon.

Far too often the most effective solutions are overlooked. If you favor a lightweight, simplistic, intuitive (and free!) approach to software, the open-source communities have alot to offer you. Listed below are 10 open-source or freeware apps I use daily and I can’t imagine not having them.

• Mozilla Firefox - web browser
• ImgBurn - disc burning utility
• Pidgin - instant messaging client
• Thunderbird- email client
• Synergy - keyboard/mouse sharing
• Task Switcher XP - alt+tab replacement
• VLC Player - media player
• Azureus - bittorrent client
• Filezilla - ftp client
• Xvid codec - video compression