It really makes me wonder what kind of conversations had to happen to bring investors on-board. I don't want to give too much credit to investor types, but... surely this must have thrown up some red flags?
Exactly what kind of moon-shot ideas did 1Password start tossing around to get those wallets open?
I predict we start seeing "Login with 1Password" buttons on random websites next to the google and facebook buttons. I also predict it never catches on.
Hmmm.... I read the headline here and was a little perturbed. WTF does a password manager need THAT much money for.
However, after reading your comment, I hope this is the direction they go. I actually really like the future where I can have instant accounts attached to a more anonymous backend than my social media. I'm sick of things as mundane as my local gym asking for access to my fucking friends list.
Sign-up hurdles are a real thing too. I recently read that it was a major factor to Microsoft's video gaming stream service never taking off.
Based on https://www.future.1password.com/ I'm guessing it will be closer to LastPass's auto-login. It still uses the existing username/password form, but autofills and submits for you.
So a 1- or 0-click login once you hit the login form, as opposed to the current 3-click system (see login list, click to fill, click to submit). And looks like it also might handle the 2fa portion (which essentially makes it 1fa).
I'm guessing this isn't what you meant, but a password manager that integrates with the Credential Management API[1] would be amazing. Would simplify password management a lot if it got widespread adoption, and provide an easier upgrade path to strong public-key authentication using WebAuthn.
That's certainly an eyecatching idea! I'd hate to be engineer in charge of that idea, though... how would you even begin to drive webmaster adoption? Even with the leverage of their massive userbases, Google/Facebook logins are far from ubiquitous.
> how would you even begin to drive webmaster adoption?
"If your users use 1password, they won't keep forgetting their passwords (causing frustration and support burden) and won't use weak passwords that result in account takeovers (support and eng burden). Plus, you and your users won't be beholden to the whims of fb or Google".
Passwords are boring, hard and important. Customers know that, so are likely willing to spend a monthly fee to feel safe. Critically, they're unlikely to swap to a different provider when there's so much setup involved.
Sure... but "good investment" and "good VC investment" aren't exactly the same thing. 1Password isn't exactly small and it's not exactly poised to explode either.
I get that there's an untapped market of non-technical users, but I am rather skeptical that advertising alone will have much success in activating it -- they'd need some innovative approach that changes the way non-technicals approach password management.
The data that can be obtained on users by just knowing where they choose to create logins for is also worth immense amounts of money, without even talking about how often they login.
Correct, but also a warning sign. "Boring, hard and important" should rarely, if ever, be left to private companies as an isolated thing. They need to somehow be baked into the model of the other things that use it.
It's the same reason there should be no such thing as a "structural integrity" company separate from the building contractor.
Exactly what kind of moon-shot ideas did 1Password start tossing around to get those wallets open?