T
he old jungle drums have been booming out about a new announcement tomorrow from Google and I wonder if it has anything to do with an increased “socialisation” of Gmail. From what I can understand Gmail will start to allow greater use of linking, sharing media and keeping track of your Gmail contacts.Apparently the move “will allow Gmail users to view a stream of status updates from people they choose to connect with”. It will also make it easier for users of Google’s web-based email service to share links, content and media with friends from video-sharing sites such as YouTube, and photo-sharing service Picasa, both of which are owned by Google.
It is not clear whether or not this will reach out to services such as Twitter or Facebook, but the fact Google will be holding a press conferences indicates something fairly major will be announced. Normally for minor or medium level upgrades to any of its services Google allows the rumour mill to build up a head of steam and then allow the product into the wild once a head of steam has been built up.
The rumours follow hot on the tail of announcements last week that Yahoo and Facebook will be developing more comprehensive communications and email modules to their services. In many respects Google is very like Apple in its “We’ll do it our way” approach and whether or not tomorrow’s press conference will really come out with anything earth shattering remains to be seen.
But observers of Gmail and Wave have long been wondering whether or not the two will merge or that Gmail will morph into Wave. The idea of having the two modules independent of each other does not make a great deal of sense and the fluid interaction of the two functions will strengthen Google’s hand.
