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OpenID aims to eliminate the need to create multiple user names and profiles, and counts Yahoo, Google, Microsoft and IBM among its members.

The move comes after the network decided in May to let its 115 million users share their MySpace profile information on other sites.

"All this will tie together to make it more useful for MySpace users to have MySpace accounts even when they're not on MySpace," says Jim Benedetto, the network's senior vice president of technology.

"We hope you'll be able to take your MySpace friends wherever you go."

Initially, however, it will not be that simple.

Members of MySpace, for example, will not be able to use their OpenID to log into a site such as Yahoo, which is also an OpenID member, or vice versa as both are considered "providers" and not "relying parties," Benedetto says.

While providers can create new OpenIDs, relying parties can accept OpenID members from other sites.

Benedetto says the move is just a first step, and that MySpace will consider becoming a relying party.