Yahoo just announced that it is finally joining the Google-led OpenSocial Movement. Likewise it is also joining a new non-profit organization spearheaded again by Google and MySpace called the OpenSocial Foundation.
Although Yahoo did not specify the extent of its participation to the OpenSocial Movement, it is safe to say that Yahoo is opening up its social media platform to developers who have been working on various social applications on various organizations who are already in the OpenSocial Movement. Open platform means more social applications. And we all know that Yahoo has several social applications (Buzz, Mash etc.) which badly need developer support for them to even take off. Hence, it is but logical that Yahoo joins the OpenSocial Movement instead of segregating itself from the alliance of the majority.
In support of the OpenSocial Movement, Yahoo is also joining the OpenSocial Foundation which has just launched today. OpenSocial Foundation is a non-profit organization that would ensure that the viability of the OpenSocial Movement. The OpenSocial Foundation is being spearheaded by Google and MySpace, and now Yahoo as well.
With Yahoo in the OpenSocial fold, what left of the social web sphere is Microsoft. Would Microsoft join the movement? I don’t think so. I wonder how this recent development would relate to the hanging issue confronting Yahoo since the past couple of months. Is this just another Yahoo ploy to avert a Microsoft takeover through whatever means. I just hope it’s not.
Yahoo! believes in supporting community-driven industry specifications and expects that OpenSocial will fuel innovation and make the web more relevant and more enjoyable to millions of users,” said Wade Chambers, Vice President – Platforms, Yahoo!.
