Reference article found at: http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-prepares-a-gmail-killer-2010-2?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Falleyinsider%2Fsilicon_alley_insider+%28Silicon+Alley+Insider%29

Facebook is launching its own email product. It took them long enough.

I doubt very much it will destroy Google’s Gmail product. However, I do believe Facebook’s push into email is an indication of their desire to broaden their user/customer base. I am referring to age groups and business professions. I am referring to those older folks who are using Facebook for everything from supporting their businesses, organizing college reunions, organizing high school reunions, all the way to their social groups. Bottom line, Facebook is expanding its user base and this means launching email for that 40 and older crowd that still uses email. Let’s face it there is an entire generation of 10 year old through 30 year olds who largely never use Email in their personal lives. Yes, even the 21 through 30 year old category only uses email at work (if their job uses email). This younger group of people uses SMS, MMS, Facebook, and YouTube to communicate with the world at large and with their friends.

Google is pushing its way into social media through their own efforts. No one should be surprised that Facebook is moving into email. Bottom line, if either expects to survive and grow in the web market space then it is absolutely necessary to reach a broader audience. This means encroaching on each other’s space.

I love competition. If it were not for competition both companies would have been sitting back nice and happy thinking they had the customer wrapped around their little fingers.

Competition drives companies to be innovative.