Google to make Gmail a little more social

Google is getting ready to add social-networking features into Gmail as it attempts to jump-start its social Web strategy.

Gmail users can already set their status within the service, but Google plans to expand that into a stream of status updates found in services like Facebook and Twitter, according to sources familiar with the company's plans. Users will also be able to share photos and videos through the service, which is expected to launch shortly.

Google has doubled down on its social Web strategy in recent months, with new hires and plans to devote more energy to understanding the social-media phenomenon. The company has tried to get momentum behind its ideas for several years, but hasn't gained much traction to date.

Separately, Google is building Google Wave as a similar stream of updates designed to improve collaboration. That service, which is unrelated to the Gmail status updates Google is preparing, is expected to become completely open sometime this year.

The Wall Street Journal first reported Google's plans for status updates inside of Gmail.

One key factor surrounding Google's plan will be the degree to which the service works with other popular social-networking services, namely Twitter and Facebook. Users who are already accustomed to sending updates across those services won't switch to the Gmail interface unless they can get all their messages in a central spot.

Yahoo offers something similar inside Yahoo Mail, letting users see updates to services like Twitter and Flickr from their contacts within the Yahoo Mail home page.

[Gabwebware]

You can already do this in Yahoo Mail using My Social Networks app:

http://www.ymailblog.com/blog/2009/12/my-social-networks-app/

Amazing Yahoo haven't made more of it, as it works brilliantly.

[Tom Krazit]

Thanks, noted that in an update.

[dr-doctor]

Oh god google is preparing for world domination!!!

[XCMeathead]

Yes, Facebook + Twitter = World

[nttwrs]

I've never really gotten this. Can someone please explain the actual benefit of these email portals (hotmail, yahoo, gmail) integrating this social stuff? Besides being a notification systems for Facebook updates, I don't really get it, and it all seems very redundant.

[Philips]

Main purpose: **** off majority of users, who simply need fast and accessible e-mail service.

Like any large company in its active growth period, they do their best to screw up the core products.

[bplewis24]

I agree with Philips.

I cannot use Gmail because it doesn't look professional enough for my particular tastes. Going more "social" is simply another barrier that prevents me from making the switch. Otherwise, I'd love to switch to gmail from my current, primary hotmail account.

[purpleLightning]

Bring with it the the long-hinted Wave UI experience and I'm sold.

[cloudmatt]

OK I know this isn't related and maybe I should put on a tinfoil hat but I could swear there was a story about Linus Torvalds saying he liked the nexus one on cnet. It was up around like 10 or so today. It's just gone the whole story. does anyone else remember this story from earlier today?

It might be a glitch but the thing just up and vanished like a fart in the wind.

I found a similar story at forbes
http://blogs.forbes.com/velocity/2010/02/08/linus-torvalds-says-googles-nexus-one-a-winner/

[Zoe Slocum]

See here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20000053-264.html

[cloudmatt]

Yah that's the one. I doesn't show up on search or in the article history. Thank you

[martinchiku]

I recently recieved someones email activation from gmail in my inbox when I don't even have a gmail account. I'm glad I'm not with gmail.

[Turgeson]

Don't be evil? Starting to lose some respect for Google. They are already huge and have their hand in most things. Why go after something that's plateauing? With GMail they ************ every other web based mail. Could they do it with social media? Maybe, but it's not like FB and Twitter aren't way ahead of the curve already.

[cloudmatt]

not agreeing or disagreeing, but I'm not that good at crosswords and I can't seem to figure out a 12 letter word to hot for cnet.

[gwailo247]

I love Mad Libs!

Kinda have to do this one by trial and error to see what shows up after you post.

synchronized?
pontificated?
reformulated?
appropriated?
refrigerated?

[Turgeson]

the ************ = bit+chsl+app+ed :-)

[JesseThe]

Google is shooting themselves on the foot repeatedly! They already lost the appreciation of the ex-loyal users of IGoogle with stupid chamges in the interface and they have messed up the usability of GMAIL. What on Earth are they smoking???

[skellener]

Yet another "feature" to turn off.

[JesseThe]

Google is shooting itself on the foot repeatedly! They already lost the appreciation of the ex-loyal users of IGoogle with stupid changes in the interface and they have already messed up the usability of GMAIL. What on Earth are they smoking???

[dilbert4]

I hope they don't mess up Gmail in the process... It's good as is. It doesn't need to be like Facebook which IMHO is horrible.

[GlennAllen]

As long as it doesn't screw up my "Gmail experience", I really don't care. Facebook is irrelevant. Twitter can be useful (though I don't use it). Email *is* useful. Wave could *become* useful... eventually. I don't really need Gmail to be my "hub"; that's what Firefox is for.

[lovepuppy85]

I wish they wouldn't (and hope there is the option to turn the social features off!) I only use facebook occasionally and can't stand twitter. status updates = spam and pointless drivel (and a little narcissistic for my liking).

[only_truth]

Digsby baby! Get it all on your desktop; free yourself from the browser!

[cvam1985]

I wish Google would work on making their Gmail app for Android more than the POS it currently is instead of dabbling with social networking crap.

[codynews]

@ sharhewrlawerwer: Nice spam...

[dirtyg4u2]

I wonder if Google will integrate or utilize technology from their service called Jaiku? I would think services related to those in Jaiku would be a strong possibility, but I have not seen it mentioned anywhere. According to Wikipedia, "Jaiku is a social networking, micro-blogging and lifestreaming service comparable to Twitter." This is especially interesting since according to Wikipedia, "On March 12, 2009 Jaiku was re-launched on Google's App Engine platform..." Jaiku was even mentioned in a PC World Business Center Article dated October 12, 2007 titled 'Wall Street Beat Google VMWare Business Objects Shine' that stated, "On Tuesday, Google announced it is buying Finnish startup Jaiku, which has developed a social-networking mobile phone application. Similar to Twitter, the application lets users send short messages about what they're doing." It just seems like a convenient solution for what reports say Google is intending to do.

[boydp182]

You guys don't have to use the feature you know. Not sure what big deal is.