Google is slowly integrating a Google+ features into its acclaimed (not by me) Web-based e-mail service, Gmail.

According to Google Engineering Manager Mark Striebeck, Google is adding Google+ status updates into its Gmail people widget. Soon you'll be able to see the most recent Google+ post (as long as it was shared with you) by the sender of whatever e-mail you're reading--from within Gmail.

The Gmail people widget was introduced in March 2011--it's a little widget that appears on the right side of whatever e-mail you're reading. In the Gmail people widget is information about the person who sent you the message--including buttons for quick chatting, e-mailing, and calling the person, as well as recent messages they've sent you. If there's more than one person involved in the e-mail chain, the Gmail people widget shows all of their names, which you can click on to get more info.

More: http://www.pcworld.com/article/238638/