User safety has always been a major concern for Google. But at the same time, the company has always wanted to allow its users to share their information with any service they choose.
For many years, Gmail has supported standard API protocols, such as POP and IMAP, in an ongoing effort to give users freedom from their data. A good example of the information sharing made available by Gmail is the fact that many social networks access our contacts to send invitations to our friends.
But, for that, we have to provide our login and password to these networks and sites. Honestly, I’m not at all comfortable with that. I really appreciate my privacy and security.
Thinking about the security of users, Google has just implemented, in Gmail, the authentication protocol called OAuth.
The new protocol allows users to authorize third-party applications to access their accounts, but without the need to provide their login and password. Twitter users must already be used to the OAuth authorization method, used by services like Brizzly, LinkedIn, Qik, Flickr and Friend Connect to connect to the microblogging service.
One of the first companies to make use of the new feature was Syphir, in its SmartPush application for the iPhone. Unlike other push applications, SmartPush Sypher will never have access to your login and password, thanks to the new OAuth.
The new feature, along with its documentation and sample codes, is available at Google Code Labs.
