The Multiple Token Dilemma. Get Over it.

I love to look for truisms and turn them around. This is a great way to come up with new ideas. Here is one that you hear over and over:

One time password tokens will never catch on in the consumer space because the consumer will never put up with carrying a dozen authentication devices with them.

First of all, have you looked at your keychain lately? How many dozens of slabs of metal do you carry with you? At a minimum you probably have your car door key, your trunk key, two or more keys for your house, an office key, and a bunch of those bar code doohickeys from grocery stores and drug stores. So don't tell me consumers need to have a single device to get into their house-office-car.

Second, have you looked in your wallet or purse lately? How many credit cards, frequent flyer cards, health-club memberships, calling cards, Kinkos stored value cards, gift cards do you carry??

Third, why not have a cross domain authentication device? I see RSA is planning on just such a service later this year. About time.

But where is the online equivalent of the "Entertainment Book"? You know- that big fat book of coupons to local restaurants and retail establishments that costs you $80 but has "A Value of $2,000!