Gmail gets social-networking add-on with Google Buzz

Users of Google’s popular webmail service, Gmail have been given a social-networking component that will let users post and share content with follows as they do with Facebook and Twitter.

Built into Gmail Google Buzz automatically sets users up to follow the people they email and chat with the most. As well as integrated photos, videos and link sharing Buzz will also allow its users to share both publicly and privately.

It’s currently a staggered launch and Google confirms it will be rolling out Buzz to existing Gmail accounts over the next few days. So, if users don’t initially see the new component in their email they should do very soon. Google also aims to make Buzz available to businesses and schools using Google Apps, with added features for sharing with organisations.

Compatible with mobile phones, Google Buzz will add location information to posts. Tagged with geographical information, users will be able to check back where they were when the shared a particular post.

Completely incorporated into Gmail, Buzz messages will be highlighted in the inbox with a dedicated symbol. Whilst private updates will be automatically added to a user’s profile page, public updates will be available to search engines.

At the moment Buzz doesn’t have any links into Facebook nor is it possible to post to Twitter from Buzz. However, it will be feasible to direct Twitter posts to Buzz as well as content from other sharing sites including Flickr and Picasa. Whether or not Google will be able to drag social-networking addicts away from their current favourite sites such as Facebook and Twitter remains to be seen.

This isn’t Google’s first foray into social-networking. In 2004 it released Orkut. Big in the likes of Brazil and India, for the most part it was shadowed by Facebook and in turn, was a bit of a flop in the UK.

Google Wave was it’s most recent venture, giving users the chance to mix email with instant messaging with the opportunity for group document sharing.

Speaking on the Google Buzz launch, analyst Jeremiah Owyang from Altimeter Group commented: “Google has a history of being late to the game when it comes to social, and they often are hit and miss. I’m optimistic there will be moderate Buzz adoption. I wouldn’t say this will be the complete next social network.”

Google Buzz won’t be a closed system and it’s inviting developers to participate in expanding the service.