Facebook’s New Messages is an Integrated Communication System

Last week, all the hype was centered on FaceBook’s “g-mail killer.” However, it was far from expected or rumored.

Don’t expect to login to an e-mail interface and see newly tagged photos, deals, or event. It’s not going to happen. Facebook new Messages isn’t an e-mail, and certainly “not an e-mail killer”.

Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg went on to add “it’s a messaging system that has an e-mail as one part of it.”

Whenever we communicate through digital means, it has always been a medium-to-medium transmission– email-to-email, phone-to-phone, chats-to-chats. Facebook feels that technology shouldn’t be a communication barrier and new Messages is built to integrate all three mediums seamlessly:

“You decide how you want to talk to your friends: via SMS, chat, email or Messages. They will receive your message through whatever medium or device is convenient for them, and you can both have a conversation in real time. You shouldn’t have to remember who prefers IM over email or worry about which technology to use. Simply choose their name and type a message.”

Here is how new Messages would look like on your phone:

You are also able to claim your Facebook email address. But this email, for now, simply acts as an aggregator and archive for easy checking and searching (it can send messages too of course). You can claim yours here. Lastly, Facebook new Messages does have a social component. Messages are grouped into one ongoing conversation with each friend or group of friends, not by date or subject line. We’ll put in more analysis as we understand this new feature better.

Meanwhile, is this what you expected? Let us know your thoughts via comment.