When word of Facebook's new e-mail product, code-named Project Titan, broke Nov. 12, the assumption was that the social network was building some sort of super Webmail product geared to kill Google's Gmail, Yahoo Mail and Windows Live Hotmail. But releasing such "killer" products has not been Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's MO. Rather, he and his team have set forth to augment Facebook with software services that are germane to the network. Everything lives within the context of the walled garden, whose access to the outside world extends to third-party Websites only through carefully federated API connections. Facebook Messages is the messaging product, but rather than running as a stand-alone offering, the service streamlines users' direct messages, SMS texting, e-mail and chat. Users who receive an invite to the beta will receive @fb.com addresses. Messages lacks the subject lines, carbon copies and blind carbon copies of regular e-mail service, but it provides a great deal more messaging efficiency to the social network, whose 500 million-plus users may be tired of fragmented communications. "We don't expect anybody to wake up tomorrow and say, 'OK, I will shut down my Yahoo or Gmail account and switch exclusively to Facebook,'" Zuckerberg said at the launch. Perhaps not so soon, but it is his belief that people will want to move all of their online communication to Facebook where it makes sense. Expect calls via Facebook, similar to what Google did in Gmail with Google Voice. Facebook could use Skype for video calling. The possibilities are many. Meanwhile, here is a brief overview of the launch and the Messages setup.
of
Facebook Messages Attempts to Outflank Gmail, Yahoo Mail
by Clint Boulton
Zuck on Messages
Zuckerberg explains Facebook Messages to reporters at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco ahead of the Web 2.0 Summit Nov. 15. He spoke hours before Google CEO Eric Schmidt unveiled near field communications on Android 2.3 smartphones.
Invitation to @Facebook.com
Facebook users will soon receive their own @facebook.com e-mail addresses for Facebook Messages, which sort of cements its status as a real e-mail product. "This product isn't e-mail, but it does allow people who do use e-mail to connect with the rest of us," explained Facebook.
Introduction to Messages
When users receive an invite to Facebook Messages, they click "okay" to accept it and see this screen.
Address
Facebook explains that users' e-mail alias will match their profile user name.
More Details
A more detailed explanation of how Messages works.
Texting with Facebook Messages
Facebook lets users set up Messages to receive SMS messages from mobile phones.
SMS to Messages in Brief
Facebook notes that users can send the letter F to the number provided and they will receive a confirmation code to trigger the service. Boom, you're done setting up Messages. Message away!
How Texting Works
Facebook details how SMS messages to Messages works.
Messages on Mobile Phones
Here is what Facebook Messages looks like on users' mobile phones.
Schmidt Responds to Facebook Messages
Just hours later in a media session at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco, Google CEO Eric Schmidt welcomed Messages as competition that is good for all on the Web. "It's basically good to have more competition in the space," Schmidt said. "They appear to be taking a different approach, which is good. Competition is positive" because it raises the bar for other products.
Windows Azure is a public cloud platform for building, hosting and scaling applications. Try Windows Azure free for 90 days and get 20GB outbound and unlimited inbound data transfer.
Cloud Computing News & Reviews 
Data Center Efficiency: 10 Tips to Boost Productivity, Reduce Pow[..]
iPhone Apps to Kick Off the 2012 Summer Season 
Email Security: 10 Steps for Dealing With Dangerous Messages
New iPad, Nokia Lumia 900: 10 Gadgets to Boost Your Summer Produc[..]
Smartphone Winners and Losers: 10 Handsets on the Market Now
Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8 Look to Redefine PC Experience
See All Slideshows
When word of Facebook's new e-mail product, code-named Project Titan, broke Nov. 12, the assumption was that the social network was building some sort of super Webmail product geared to kill Google's Gmail, Yahoo Mail and Windows Live Hotmail. But releasing such "killer" products has not been Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's MO. Rather, he and his team have set forth to augment Facebook with software services that are germane to the network. Everything lives within the context of the walled garden, whose access to the outside world extends to third-party Websites only through carefully federated API connections. Facebook Messages is the messaging product, but rather than running as a stand-alone offering, the service streamlines users' direct messages, SMS texting, e-mail and chat. Users who receive an invite to the beta will receive @fb.com addresses. Messages lacks the subject lines, carbon copies and blind carbon copies of regular e-mail service, but it provides a great deal more messaging efficiency to the social network, whose 500 million-plus users may be tired of fragmented communications. "We don't expect anybody to wake up tomorrow and say, 'OK, I will shut down my Yahoo or Gmail account and switch exclusively to Facebook,'" Zuckerberg said at the launch. Perhaps not so soon, but it is his belief that people will want to move all of their online communication to Facebook where it makes sense. Expect calls via Facebook, similar to what Google did in Gmail with Google Voice. Facebook could use Skype for video calling. The possibilities are many. Meanwhile, here is a brief overview of the launch and the Messages setup.