Google Inc. is expected to introduce new features that will enable more social networking functionality this week,according to the Wall Street Journal.

The move “will allow Gmail users to view a stream of status update from individuals they choose to connect with.” like in Facebook and Twitter. The new feature will provide users with a real-time stream of status updates from their Gmail contacts.

Google is also expected to eventually include contents shared by Gmail users through sites such as YouTube  and Picasa, both owned by Google.

Google has been trying for long to make Gmail into more than an email service for years. Google’s move which comes after Facebook rolled out new layouts, and features including last week and not to mentioned, the rumor about it’s own email client.

How far this new move will take Google in the social-networking scene, but it’s is highly unlikely that Google will be able to rival Facebook who has now around 400 million users as compared to Gmail’s 176 million unique visitor in December (according to comScore Inc).