Email has been with us for many years. Most programs and applications have undergone several modifications and real changes along their lifespan. Email has been one of the exceptions. Yet it is still a major part of business and our day to day lives. It’s about time that Email has gotten an overhaul. I thought Google Wave would have been a contender to shake things up and change Email for good. Sadly, my dreams were not realized and Google Wave faded off into the distance. Now I see that Facebook is putting forth a messaging system that it says… “It’s not Email”. Having seen a few screen shots shared by the favored few, I see things that I would associate with an Email like program such as the ability to attach files, reply to sender and the all to familiar “@” sign. Could this be the next evolution of Email? I mean “Messaging” 🙂
With the advent of spam, the world has been looking for a better way. Google Wave did not deliver. Maybe the new Facebook Messaging system will do a better job and actually survive. What we are looking for is a system that will enable us to get our valuable messages without the hassle of dealing with time killing spam. Maybe it’s time to see what Facebook can bring to the table. For their sake, I hope there are no privacy issue concerns with this launch. Here’s hoping.
I need to toss my opinion in here. The reality is the older generation of people still prefer email. The younger generation seem to like IM programs, Facebook and Text messaging. To some degree messaging has always been around. AIM, ICQ, Yahoo and MSN are the main ones.
Techies like message boards, Twitter and RSS feeds.
The point I am making is different mediums for different people. As people involved in social media, we need to be aware of the mediums and be involved in them.
In terms of spam, I do not think it will ever go away. Spam is always a problem regardless if the medium is email, Facebook or messaging.
As for priority concerns, please remember that the users of the service need to be concerned about their privacy and what they post as much as Facebook who needs to protect the users data. It is a two part equation.