What counts most major social networks – and Yahoo – among its members? Official confirmation is still lacking, but later this year, maybe Google OpenSocial.
By joining OpenSocial, Yahoo would don the same “aren’t-we-friendly” halo as the group’s other members. That’s the least of the (possible) move’s ramifications, however.
Google’s OpenSocial
For one thing, developers might pay less attention to Facebook. In reference to OpenSocial Stan Schroeder notes, “So far, Google, Friendster, hi5, imeem, LinkedIn, MySpace, Ning, Oracle, orkut, Plaxo, Salesforce.com, Six Apart, XING and many others are on board. If Yahoo joins, that would mean practically everyone is on the OpenSocial team . . .”
Another issue is what Yahoo’s move would mean for the Microsoft acquisition. Erick Schonfeld writes, “[J]oining with Google appears to also be an attempt to further complicate any such deal. Microsoft, of course, is a big investor in Facebook and handles a large chunk of its advertising. If it ends up buying Yahoo, OpenSocial may be a deal Microsoft finds it needs to unwind.”
Hurray for corporate politics, huh? They’re at least as complicated as a medieval siege. Still, it could be some time before we find out if the rumor – never mind these potential motivations – is true.
