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MySpaceID Becomes More Like Facebook Connect

MySpace is once again following Facebook with new features it's adding to its MySpaceID distributed identity service. Similar to Facebook Connect, MySpaceID will now allow users to log into partner sites using their MySpace identities, see updates from their friends and publish information on those sites. The idea is to become more relevant to more people by making it easier for users and developers to access MySpace data from around the Web.

"It's not clear how people will use these new tools, but an obvious use is for entertainment-related sites," says VentureBeat's Eric Eldon. MySpace has always been a major force in music, providing a platform for musicians and other celebrities to connect with fans. The new tools make it even easier for an artist to take their MySpace fan base with them to other sites. They also use open sharing methods to allow MySpace data to be integrated on a third-party site along with information from partners like Google and Plaxo. Using the music example, this effectively allows musicians to bring their fan bases from different sites together in one place.

How does MySpace benefit from this? It's all about creating a way for third party sites to share information back with the home site, says Eldon. This way, a musician's fans may see that other fans are MySpace members, too, and decide to spend more time there. Eldon adds that what really sets MySpaceID apart from Facebook Connect is this focus on entertainment.

Read the whole story at VentureBeat »

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