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We want to add invite feature to our site, so users can invite their friends.
Is there any web app or script that can import contacts from Gmail, Yahoo, Live, etc using OAuth, so we can send invite email to user's selected contacts? Something like free Tell a friend.

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I want an option to set invite message –  Hameds Apr 29 '11 at 16:57
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4 Answers

OpenID is a login service specification and does not specify anything about contacts. You're trying to use the wrong tool here.

Longer explanation:

  1. OpenID is used to identificate the user
  2. When the user's identity is confirmed, Google logs you into Gmail
  3. Once you are logged into gmail, you can fetch the user's contacts

As you see, OpenID has nothing to do with fetching contact data; it's merely a way to identify users. Once you are identified, you still need to use the different APIs that Google, Yahoo and so provide to fetch their contacts. OpenID does not help you with that.

Edit: OAuth

I see that you changed your question from OpenID to OAuth. You're still stuck with the same problem: OAuth, like OpenID, has nothing to do with accessing contact data. It's about authorization.

As the OAuth website states:


Your question

You are looking for a standardized API to fetch contacts from remote servers. Each of the services (Yahoo, Google, Live, GMX) have their own APIs. There is nothing standardized. You need to implement it differently for each service.

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You can login using OpenID to get your Gmail Contacts –  Hameds Apr 27 '11 at 10:46
Please see my updated answer. –  cweiske Apr 27 '11 at 14:37
Take a look at this site: freetellafriend.com and try it, I want something like this –  Hameds Apr 27 '11 at 14:50
And I really thought that you wanted an answer to your question. –  cweiske Apr 27 '11 at 14:53
I want something self hosted with more options –  Hameds Apr 29 '11 at 16:51
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up vote 0 down vote accepted

I found InviteBox. It's not self hosted but it has more options to customize. And is still in Beta phase, but you can make a request for beta invite.

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I hope the following question on stackoverflow may help you.


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