Facebook expected to launch `Gmail rival`
Baku, November 15 (AZERTAC). Facebook is expected to launch a new messaging system seen as a challenge to Google`s Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail.
The giant social network - which boasts more than 500 million users worldwide - will host a special event in San Francisco on Monday.
Unconfirmed reports suggest Facebook could announce its own e-mail address - @facebook.com - or even a fully-fledged web-based e-mail system.
Google-Facebook rivalry has increased recently amid a series of disputes.
Google has banned Facebook from importing its users` e-mail contacts, a move it says it made because Facebook refused to allow the export of contact and friend data from within user profiles.
In reply, Facebook enabled a workaround that let users save their Google contacts to their computers before importing them into Facebook.
According to a report on popular technology blog Techcrunch, Facebook`s new venture - codenamed Project Titan - is being dubbed a "Gmail killer".
It suggests that Facebook is preparing to unveil a fully-fledged e-mail service.
Facebook`s 500 million-strong user base means that any e-mail system it runs could quickly dwarf other major players in the market, including AOL, Hotmail and Yahoo as well as Google.
Techcrunch also suggests that Facebook`s wealth of information on users - from event planning, to their likes and even the frequency with which they interact with other users - could be used to make the e-mail service an irresistible proposition.
But little is known for sure, and it is also possible that the new system could be a revamped messaging service only available for Facebook users.
Facebook has made no comment on the report, and will brief the press in San Francisco on Monday at 1000 (1800 GMT).
Facebook`s huge user base is seen as a potential treasure trove of information, especially for advertisers.
It is worth remembering that it is all about the data. While Google has quite a bit to lose and Facebook has much to gain, what`s in it for the humble user?”
Analysts say the social networking firm, founded by Mark Zuckerberg, is becoming an increasingly powerful rival to Google because of the loyalty of its user base.
Facebook users willingly provide reams of private and personal information, as well as interacting constantly with friends, applications and organisations through the Facebook platform.
Other news in this section
