Facebook's new messaging system may not be a Gmail killer, but it's definitely another blow in the growing battle between two Internet bigwigs.

Facebook took the wraps off what it's calling a modern messaging system on Monday. Facebook Messages is designed to handle the convergence of different kinds of messages -- Facebook messages, IMs, SMS and e-mail -- and bring them together under a single social umbrella.

The system also allows users to have a facebook.com email address, though it will work with other e-mail systems like Gmail and Yahoo.

While Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was adamant that it's not intended to replace e-mail, industry analysts say the new system will almost certainly draw some users away from Yahoo mail and Google's Gmail.

More: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9196618/