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 calledÌýÂ鶹Éç iD.Ìý Some sites are already using it and the Â鶹Éç'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 overÌýtoÌýÂ鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç iD?
Â鶹Éç iD is the new sign in system across the Â鶹Éç. 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 Â鶹Éç online services. If you have an existing Â鶹Éç membership account for blogs, message boards or other services at some point in the next few months you will need to switch to Â鶹Éç iD.
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Â鶹Éç iD sounds good. What do I need to do to join?
If you've already got a Â鶹Éç membership then it's a fairly simple process. When one of the Â鶹Éç sites you regularly sign in to, (eg blogs), switches over to Â鶹Éç iD you'll be prompted to create a Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç membership just go to the Â鶹Éç iD homepage to create a Â鶹Éç iD. NB: Until the switchover is complete you won't be able to sign in to non-Â鶹Éç iD sites with your Â鶹Éç iD. (For more help see the FAQ "I've just created a Â鶹Éç iD but I can't sign in to some of the Â鶹Éç'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 Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç iD?
Our aim is to provide users with a single sign on system for all the Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç iD but I can't sign in to some of the Â鶹Éç's services. Why?
Some of the Â鶹Éç's services are still using the old Â鶹Éç membership system and you won't be able to sign into them with a Â鶹Éç iD until the service you want to use has moved to Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç membership system you canÌý use your previous membership details. If you only have a Â鶹Éç iD account you can create a separate account to use on sites that haven't switched over to Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç iD will work on all Â鶹Éç sites.
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I've got lots of Â鶹Éç memberships. Can I make them into one Â鶹Éç iD?
No. Read the FAQ "I've got more than one Â鶹Éç sign in. What are my options?" to find out more.
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I've got more than one Â鶹Éç membership. What are my options?
1.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You can choose to migrate one of your Â鶹Éç memberships to Â鶹Éç iD and use that on all new sites using Â鶹Éç iD. Eventually you'll be able to sign in to all Â鶹Éç services with one Â鶹Éç iD.
2.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You can migrate each account separately and create a new Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç iD account for each one. You'll need a valid email address for each Â鶹Éç iD.
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Can I make changes to my profile when I switch over to Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç membership.
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If I migrate my Â鶹Éç account to the new Â鶹Éç iD will my posts and comments be affected?
All previous comments or posts will continue to appear on the Â鶹Éç websites. The Â鶹Éç membership that you migrated to Â鶹Éç iD will still be linked to these comments. Also if you make a change to your Â鶹Éç iD profile (eg: If you change your display name) it'll be changed on previous comments that you made using your Â鶹Éç 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)