Facebook, the Gmail killer?

They've already got half a billion users in the fold....and now, Facebook's trying to give the users more reason to stay there.

On Monday, the company introduced a new messaging platform called "Project Titan" that introduces Facebook email as one part of a larger messaging mix.

"More people will engage in this simply because it's simpler and it's easier and helps people connect better and it's more accessible and more fun and more valuable for them to use," Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Facebook.

There's been speculation that new platform was a potential "Gmail Killer" aimed at web rival, Google. Zuckerberg downplayed that notion, but said email's importance overall is diminishing alongside chats, texts and instant messages.

"We think this simpler type of messaging will be how a lot of people will shift a lot of their communication, and we'll see how that happens over time, but if we build a good product that people want to use, then they'll use it, " said Zuckerberg.

Privacy issues that have dogged Facebook could give some users pause over sharing even more personal information with the new platform.

But the ability to pool internet communication from various sources into one home on Facebook is likely to have strong appeal for many.

And more time spent on Facebook means less time spent with its
internet competitors.

Facebook users will be provided an "@facebook,com" email address as the system is rolled out gradually over the next few months.

For more details on the new messaging system click here .