SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/12/13 -- Echo, the first and largest real-time web platform provider, and Janrain, the leading provider of user management solutions for the social web, today announced that Backplane Protocol has more than doubled its industry adoption over the past year. Ten application providers have adopted the proposed open standard since July 2012; the application adopters are 500friends, BigDoor, Calmsea, Caterva, Chute, Disqus, Marketo, Turnto, Umbel and Via Fora.

Backplane Protocol solves a key interoperability problem that emerged when brands started integrating multiple third party web applications like real-time commenting, social login and game mechanics into their sites in order to provide web visitors with a modern, social user experience. The protocol serves as a "message bus" for social applications, enabling apps developed by disparate vendors to communicate with each other in real-time, resulting in a seamless, unified user experience.

"We are excited to see the industry adopting Backplane at such a rapid pace," said Khris Loux, co-founder and CEO of Echo and one of the original authors of Backplane Protocol. "This standard creates a win-win situation for website visitors, app providers and brands and it promises to become the connective tissue of the open, social web."

"We're encouraged by the progress and success of Backplane Protocol over the past year, both in terms of adoption and support from the OpenID Foundation," said Larry Drebes, founder and CEO of Janrain. "As a staunch proponent of the open source movement, we believe our industry can come together to create the standards upon which the social web can flourish."

In July 2012, the OpenID Foundation announced the formation of the OpenID Backplane Protocol Work Group, seeking input and participation from the global OpenID community, to help strengthen the specification and accelerate its adoption. The proposed open standard is currently in use by some of the largest media companies in the world, including Universal Music Group, USA Network and WWE.

Echo and Janrain also announced a joint event at SXSW 2013 designed to educate the broader community on Backplane Protocol. On the first day of the Interactive conference, the event will include an overview of the standard, instructions on how to use it and perspectives from both app partners and brands on how it benefits the industry.

Event: Backplane & Beer

Date/Time: Saturday, March 9th, 2:30-4:30pm

Location:
Cedar Street Courtyard
208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

To Register: http://backplanebeer.eventbrite.com/

About Echo
Echo provides the industry's first and largest real-time web platform, enabling the rapid implementation and scale of applications for social TV, social music, social news, social sports, social commerce and social finance. Brands can leverage the Echo platform to transform their static websites and mobile apps into real-time experiences that significantly boost traffic, increase user engagement, and drive more revenue. A leader in the space, Echo currently serves over 1 billion streams per month for brands including ABC, AMC Networks, ESPN, NASDAQ, The Washington Post, Universal Music Group, USA Network and WWE. To learn more, visit www.aboutecho.com.

About Janrain
The Janrain User Management Platform (JUMP) helps organizations succeed on the social web with leading technology that leverages the popularity of social networks and identities for new user acquisition, engagement, and enhanced customer intelligence. Our solutions, including social login, social sharing, social profile data collection and storage, access to the social graph, and digital strategy services, improve the effectiveness of online marketing initiatives for leading brands like Fox, Universal Music Group, Whole Foods, Mattel, Purina, Samsung, Macy's and Dr Pepper. Founded in 2005, Janrain is based in Portland, Oregon. To learn more, visit www.janrain.com and follow @janrain.