Google to Introduce a Twitter/Friendfeed Like Feature for Gmail

WSJ is reporting that Google will soon release a new Twitter like feature for Gmail.

The feature is reportedly designed to make it simple for users to share status updates, photos, videos with relevant people in their contact list via stream like interface.

WSJ reports that the feature could be made available as soon as this week, possibly as an integrated feature or initially as a Gmail labs addon.

The feature will apparently link to Gtalk’s status update feature but also  provide a separate area to view a Twitter like stream, presumably with replies/comments too.

Where does Friendfeed come into the picture you ask? Well Google reportedly plans to integrate content that is shared through its YouTube, Picasa photo-sharing service and other services. Integrating Facebook and Twitter status updates should also be presumed likely.

This isn’t Google’s first venture into stream like services. Google acquired Finnish microblogging service in October 2007 only to see it crumble and opensourced late last year. Also, as Silicon Alley Insider notes, Yahoo integrated a similar service into its email service in August last year.

We’ve contacted Google for comment and will update if/when we hear back.

Update:

Mashable notes that the new release could be announced tomorrow morning during an recently announced intimate Google Event. The event is reportedly to announce  major updates to two of Google’s “most popular products.”

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Discussion - 15 Comments/Pingbacks RSS feed for comments on this post

1. 

   Radu Panciuc says February 08, 2010

   Reply

   Can't wait to see it. Was about time :)

2. 

   Paisano® says February 08, 2010

   Reply

   Finally… been wondering why they haven't started to connect the dots of all their services…
   It's no coincidence that things are changing for the better at Google ever since Chris “Factory Joe” Messina joined their team. Look for much more to come including more with OpenID.

   Pai

3. 

   Shikhvarger says February 08, 2010

   Reply

   This will become the micro-content service for the network of people you actually know (or email). You tend to have smaller and focused network of such people than on Twitter or Facebook. Looking forward to this.

4. 

   Jeremy Campbell says February 08, 2010

   Reply

   Pretty cool, should be interesting to see how the implementation was done, and how much more social Gmail becomes as a result.

5. 

   David says February 09, 2010

   Reply

   A Facebook/FriendFeed “Like” feature? Or a Facebook/FriendFeed-like feature?

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