Microsoft is teaming up with Facebook, Twitter and Google to launch an open source platform that enables users to easily share their data between apps.
The new Data Transfer Project would simplify the sharing of a user’s contacts, emails and calendars when they open new accounts, or make the switch to a different provider. The service could even stretch to the sharing of music playlists between rival streaming services as well, as photos between services like Instagram and Google Photos (via Engadget).
While downloading data and uploading it to different services is commonly available within major platforms, the process is hardly ever streamlined. That’s what the new DTP is hoping to change.
The project, which isn’t yet available to consumers, is “committed to building a common framework with open-source code that can connect any two online service providers, enabling a seamless, direct, user initiated portability of data between the two platforms.”
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Here’s how the group says it’ll work: “The Data Transfer Project uses services’ existing APIs and authorisation mechanisms to access data. It then uses service specific adapters to transfer that data into a common format, and then back into the new service’s API.”
Thus far the company has published a white paper on its plans and is inviting other companies to get on board. So far only the four aforementioned tech giants are signed up.
The group has plans to create stringent authentication adapters in order assure users are verified and the data is adequately stored during the transfer process. Damien Kieran, Data Protection Officer at Twitter says the group’s aim is “enable people to freely move their information across the web.”
He added: “This will take time but we are very excited to work with innovators and passionate people from other companies to ensure we are putting you first,” Kieran said. “Fundamentally this is about pushing towards a more open and dynamic internet.”
Perhaps the group will allow users to remove every piece of data the first firm has on users while moving the data to the new service? Yeah, we don’t think it’ll happen either.
Is transferring data between apps too much of a hassle? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.