MySpace launches MySpaceID

MySpace has teamed up with Google and Vodafone to launch MySpaceID with the aim of making it easier to browse websites with one identity. The initiative, introduced earlier this year, lets members login to partner websites with their MySpace usernames and find which of their MySpace friends also use those sites. As with Facebook Connect, 'data portability', or the ability to move data round the web without having to log in to websites each time, is central to the latest initiative, unveiled at Le Web 08 conference in Paris. With MySpaceID members will soon be able to register for third-party websites with their MySpace URL and publish comments or blog posts on partner sites from their MySpace page. Both MySpace and Facebook are looking to capitalise on new ways of keeping users within their social networks, with the 'universal login' central to both. MySpace, despite being around longer, trails Facebook in the number of worldwide members, with 127 million to Facebook's 130 million. MySpace has also announced the introduction of its own toolbar, which will be available from tomorrow. The Toolbar, which will run on PCs using Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher or Firefox 2.0 or higher, will feature auto login, message notification and friend updates and a Google-powered search bar. www.myspace.com/toolbar Save up to £16 a year this Christmas when you subscribe to Web User!