Words have been out before that Google’s product Gmail will get social networking features. Google has finally launched its new social product called Google Buzz.
Buzz, unveiled yesterday, will let Gmail users share status updates and links to media, like videos, news feeds and photos.
It is being compared heavily with Facebook’s FriendFeed service, which also allow posting, sharing and viewing photos, videos and commeting within the stream of updates.
Like Facebook, Google Buzz will also let users share either with the rest of the world or with selected group of people.
Mobile version application of Google Buzz allows people to see the public updates of other people in the same vicinity, which is particularly Twitter-like.
Many people are taking this launch as a move to rival Facebook and Twitter on the social-networking scene. However, Quentin Hardy writes at Forbes.com that Google’s plan for Buzz is “Not an “Us Too” social play – it wants to manage knowledge.”
He suggests that though the features are very much like Facebook and Twitter at first look, Google has a very different core business from those other companies’ information organization, particularly on the web. By watching what people upload or who they follow, Google can offer a more personalized web search inside the Gmail application.
I wonder what Facebook users have to say on this issue. Some of the first time reactions, i believe, would be “Oh no, not another one!!”, “One networking site is enough for me!”, or “Buzz of Google Buzz.” It’s rather hard and too early too say how far this is going to affect Facebook. But, one thing for sure, if anyone is looking for me, you’ll find me on Facebook 
