Having to remember different passwords to sign onto various Web sites is a major annoyance in the Internet age.
On Thursday, a project aimed at ending the inconvenience by enabling a common log-in got a big boost when Yahoo Inc. unveiled plans to test the system starting Jan. 30.
The Sunnyvale company's support gives the project, called OpenID, a major backer with 248 million users. It joins a smattering of smaller Web sites including LiveJournal, Smugmug and Technorati that already have joined the fold, representing another 120 million accounts.
"We're taking a leadership role in bringing OpenID to the mass audience," said Denis Roy, a Yahoo spokesman.
