Address Book Format

We are in need of a standardized address book format, sort of what RDF or OPML did to blogging. Before we can decide on a format (which will probably be an XML-based format) we need to decide on a schema. What fields we need. Vcard is one such format but seems to be just a single entry (needs research.)

Address Book Access Protocol

This is the counterpart to the address book format. While LDAP seems like the way to go, it is designed to be a global (network-wide or enterprise-wide) directory protocol.

Centralize Address Book Storage

This will be the del.icio.us of address books. I'm not sure if there is API access to it. And if there is, it could well be that all our problems are solved. But it would probably be non-standard.

Application Support

All of the above is really leading to this. We use address book in a wide array of applications, from cell phones to mail clients and PDAs. My goal to keep all my addresses in sync, and store an authoritative copy in a secure location. One place where I'd really like to see the address book being used is the mail server (MTA). It would be nice to get my mail server to deliver mails coming from people in my address book, and rejecting or placing lower trust levels for all others.

Address book is also particularly useful in social networks or privacy broker (think XDI and XRI data broker).



Links

• The Address Book - open source address management system
• IMC Personal Data Interchange - http://www.imc.org/pdi/
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