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Think about the power of a group including Google, Facebook, and soon enough, Microsoft.  Like some international entity, DataPortability.org would seem to have the ability to make tremendous changes.  Or (like some international entity), DataPortability.org might just sit on its hands.

Don't get us wrong; data portability, in and of itself, could be both good and bad - say goodbye to walled gardens and semi-monopolies, but worry about personal information traveling when you don't want it to.  So we're not necessarily cheering or booing the organization and its goals.

It's just that Microsoft's move may not change things at all.  When Google, Facebook, and Plaxo joined DataPortability.org, David Utter wrote, "Call us skeptical, but Facebook and Google have nothing to gain by opening their data for portability.  We see the announcement as more of a 'keep your enemies closer' move, but look forward to being proven wrong."

And the current situation would appear to be the same.  Blog entries, press releases, and no solid promises.

Ah, well.   At the least the development has resulted in a nice nod from Microsoft to Marshall Kirkpatrick; Kirkpatrick interviewed DataPortability.org's cofounder and chairman, Chris Saad.