Opinion Time for some social mail
Like many of you,Im still waiting for that elusive Facebook Messages invite.
Like many of you,Im still waiting for that elusive Facebook Messages invite. Im not such a great fan of the Social Network; but if Mark Zuckerberg is going to change the way we use email,I want a look-in. From what I have read of the new kid on the block,the idea is unconventional,though very basic others should have thought of this one.
For starters,Facebook wants to get rid of long email ids and the even longer phone numbers. It wants you to just select a friend and send a mail,like you would on Facebook. No need for CCs or subject messages. And taking a cue from Google,they will also let you prioritise your messages; even decide who can send you mail.
Then there is smart filtering by which the mail from people closest to you will get prominence over other mail. Messages,and even chats,from a certain contact will be bunched together but we will have to wait see if that will be a help or a pain. To make it more complex,Facebook wants to integrate text messages too to your conversations. But thankfully,it will allow you to unsubscribe yourself from a conversation I wish I could do that with Facebook posts too.
Pretty simple,you might say. But Facebook is not keeping its Messages that basic,for it will allow users to send and receive MS Office files. Even those who dont have Office installed will be able to access the files through the cloud-based,no frills,Office Live service.
Cool,eh? Not really,for many offices around the world about 16 per cent according to some studies dont allow its employees to access Facebook while at work. So you can forget sending an Excel sheet to your boss through Facebook for now. Then analysts are not sure Facebook has really sorted out its privacy issues.
But if you ask me,do we need yet another email service? Ive been trying to get rid of my old ones,slowly switching to a single mail Id. Unless you want to retain a double,or multiple,identity; I think all of you should also think of limiting your email exposure.
By the way,Yahoo — on which I incidentally created my first email id over a decade back — is trying to regain some of its lost flock by augmenting its mail services. The new Messenger,the beta version of which is now out,lets users play videos and slideshows of pictures from their inbox.
There is a lot of integration too. So while Facebook tries to other email users,Yahoo is trying to keep social network users within its premises by proving them updates in the mail interface. It also provides many other third-party applications within the inbox to increase productivity and,yes,stop you from straying.
Share
