MySpace joins OpenID coalition to share log-ins

The online hangout MySpace took another step Tuesday in cooperating with rival Internet services, joining a coalition that allows people to use the same accounts and passwords across the Web.

The OpenID coalition now includes Time Warner Inc.'s AOL, Google Inc.'s Blogger, Yahoo Inc. and blogging services Vox, WordPress, LiveJournal. Users with a supported account can activate it for use at other sites accepting OpenID; this way they won't have to keep creating new accounts and remembering passwords.

Because MySpace users now log on with their e-mail addresses, MySpace users wishing to log on at another OpenID site will use their unique Web address _ either an assigned number or a name chosen by the user. MySpace did not say whether it will be accepting OpenID accounts from elsewhere in lieu of its normal registration.

Facebook, the No. 2 online hangout behind News Corp.'s MySpace, has yet to announce OpenID support. Typically, Facebook has favored developing its own systems, while MySpace has been apt to join coalitions. MySpace also is a member of OpenSocial, a Google-initiated platform for sharing applications across the Web.

MySpace also said Tuesday its users will be able to quickly share profile data with two additional partners, Flixster and Eventful. Yahoo Inc. and eBay Inc. are among the partners in the Data Availability program, which lets other sites incorporate MySpace profile information, averting the need for users to constantly create new profiles at each site.