Is it just me or is the power struggle between Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, et al starting to look a bit like an adolescent squabble?!  

I mean, the latest development of Yahoo joining the OpenSocial Foundation is somewhat comparable to the sudden swapping of friendship allegiances amongst teenagers! Although to be fair, given the move creates a fundamental conflict in direction and strategy, as well as philosophy, between Yahoo and Microsoft it has perhaps been rather more intelligently motivated… 

Lets look at the facts here: 

1.)     Hostile takeover bid for Yahoo by Microsoft

2.)     Google a key player in OpenSocial and a key competitor of Microsoft

3.)     OpenSocial’s aims a red flag to Microsoft strategy - the aim of OpenSocial is to develop standards that can be used across all social networking sites, making it easier for software developers to write applications

4.)     Yahoo joining OpenSocial pretty much equitable to an alliance with Google

5.)     Only Facebook (in which Microsoft has invested $240million) and Windows Live Spaces remain missing from OpenSocial membership 

These facts aside, it still looks a bit like Yahoo sticking two fingers up to iron fisted Microsoft! 

As Yahoo Vice President of Platforms, Wade Chambers, said, "Openness is in the Internet's DNA and it's also a major aspect of our culture here at Yahoo." 

Ooooh, what you going to do next Microsoft?!