14 DAY TRIAL // It looks like Facebook isn't the only one to get Twitter envy, Google seems to be catching it too as there are reports that it's launching a tool which will enable users to view status updates and shared links from their friends inside Gmail. The WSJ claims (subscription required) that the feature may be coming as soon as this week. This ties in nicely with the announcement of a Google event later today, 10 a.m. PST, where Google says it will be "unveiling some product innovations in two of [its] most popular products."
The new Gmail feature will add a news feed of sorts to the webmail client which will help users keep up with the activities of their contacts coming from Gmail itself, other Google services, YouTube and Picasa for example, but also third-party services. It will also allow them to post status updates and share content through Gmail. The webmail client already has a limited status update tool of sorts for the integrated chat.
There's no word whether Twitter or Facebook status updates are included which is the most important question. Tweets have a good chance of making their way into Gmail. Google already has an agreement with Twitter and integrates tweets into search. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to link your Google account to your Twitter one and have your stream pulled and displayed in Gmail.
Facebook, though, is tougher question. Relations between Google and Facebook have always been tense and it's only gotten worse lately. The recently launched Google Social Search has just basic access to Facebook content and things are unlikely to have changed in the meantime.
Google has definitely not given up on the social game, but all of its attempts so far have fluttered. The company is determined and 2010 will see an even bigger focus on social features. We'll have to wait and see exactly what Google unveils later today after which maybe we'll be able to venture a guess whether the Gmail social tool goes the way of Orkut or Google Video.
Yahoo has launched a similar tool which enables users to aggregate the status updates of their friends from various networks and sites and has been integrating it across in various products, from the homepage to Yahoo Messenger and Yahoo Mail. It hasn't been an overwhelming success to say the least so, coupled with Google's track record when it comes to social features, the stacks are racked against Google's latest social venture.
