Facebook announced its supposed “gmail-killer,” by unveiling what their new Messages functionality would look like after it has been rolled out.
It’s basically three features:
- Unified inbox of messages, chats, texts, and emails
- Conversation histories saved on Facebook
- Message filtering for Facebook friends and friends of friends on by default
Now, I had a tough time figuring out just what the hubbub over the new Facebook Messages was about. I mean, was it just me or do none of these features sound particularly groundbreaking? I’m a gmail user. I already have access to chat, email, and the ability to text people. Hell, it even saves conversations histories for everything. And messaging filters? Hasn’t that feature existed since the dial-up AOL days?
I realized the biggest problem: I’m not a heavy Facebook Messages user to begin with.
Apparently a lot of people are. According to Mark Zuckerberg, 350 million people send 4 billion messages on Facebook daily. This number will only grow as time moves forward. After all, Facebook is the online lifestyle hub for the vast majority of young teenagers out there.
When you think about it, the goal Facebook is trying to accomplish here is actually a valid one. Everyone has their own preferred method of text communication, whether it’s via email, instant message, or text message. Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass to keep track of who is on what network and what the best way of getting a response from someone is. If the new Facebook Messages works as advertised, it’ll be as simple as finding a friend’s name, clicking, typing in your message and pressing “Enter.” Everything is simplified into what is essentially a chat experience. No subject line, CC: or BCC: fields to fill out. It may not seem like much, but it can get annoying filling them out if all you want to do is email a photo or quick question to someone.
The problem with the new Facebook Messages as it launches is that it’s completely contained within the walled garden of Facebook (at least for now). Other than mobile text messages, you’ll be restricted to communicating via Facebook messages, chat, or your newly minted Facebook.com email address. It may not be a big deal if you and your friends use Facebook heavily, but if you’re like most grown-ups, you use other services as well. If/when they start adding external services into the service, then we might have something to talk about.
Facebook Messages is a promising idea that might bear fruit down the road. It’s not worth switching your communications habits for now, but if you’re a heavy Facebook user you will get some good use out of it.
Check out this video explanation from Facebook and request your invite for the new Messages here.
For some screenshots, Mashable has a little gallery up of the new service.
