The Facebook of Email

Let’s face it: Facebook is simply a better way to communicate online.

Here’s how the world worked before.

1. I know you
2. I have to ask for your email address
3. I have to remember your email address
4. I have to type you an email

Now, I just have to know your name.

This is fantastic for two reasons.

• Lowers the barriers - Is my buddy Chris, chris_is_the_man or chrisistheman2 @ yahoo or google?  Who cares?  Facebook asks, “is this your friend?”  And then they show you a picture.
• Practically eliminates spam – with no way to send messages from outside the system, spammers outside the system can’t message me.  If I want, I can adjust my settings to only allow messages from friends.

However, their implementation of Facebook messages sucks.  Can’t forward, attach, etc.  It’s clear some form of change is needed.

Facebook heard the call and Mark Zuckerburg announce changes to Facebook messages on Monday.  Switching to an open communication network (like email) takes away the two benefits above, so Facebook has done some clever things to try and preserve those qualities while opening up communication to folks who are off-network. Watch this video to get the explanation of the features.

I’m not sure it will be the “Gmail killer” it’s  touted to be, but I do think Facebook is smart to bring as many forms of communication they can into the Facebook network, and do what they’ve always done:

make communication easier.

Photo: loop_oh