Yahoo plans to join OpenSocial, Google’s effort to standardize applications to run across a variety of social networks. According to a New York Times blog post, Yahoo's backing could be announced as soon as this week.

The move is considered a major victory for OpenSocial, as Yahoo would bring its large user base to the initiative, which already includes MySpace and almost every other social networking site.

While Yahoo is not a social network, applications could allow users to share pictures, video and music.

One social network that has not signed on is Facebook, and the Yahoo alliance could be the straw that breaks the camel's back in the Google/Facebook rivalry. Google announced OpenSocial in October, making it an immediate competitor with the social-network powerhouse in recruiting top developers and starting a dispute as to whether Facebook had been invited to participate.