Facebook’s new email service, which combines a variety of communication methods, has been hailed to be the next Gmail- or even Email-killer, but recent GfK NOP data shows otherwise – that Facebook Messages is likely to be used alongside current email and instant messaging clients, and is unlikely to replace them, at least in the short term.

Known before only as “Project Titan”, the new Facebook messaging service is said to combine email, SMS, chat and Facebook email; users will also have the option to have a @facebook.com email address. Launched on 15 November this year, the service is, at present, by invitation only, but users can apply for an invite on the popular social networking site.

A recent online study by GfK NOP [1] shows that just under than a third of Facebook users say that they are likely to start using the new messaging service when it becomes available. Many appear to be in the ‘wait and see’ camp, with two-fifths saying that they’re neither likely nor unlikely to start using it. Given the ease and speed with which Facebook users adopt the various add-ons offered by the site (Farmville anyone?), we are likely to see this service quickly taken up if it proves to be intuitive and useful to adopters.

However, it would appear, like many new services, that until Facebook Messages has gained momentum and users are comfortable with it, it is unlikely to replace current email or instant messaging solutions, as on the whole, people are happy with the services they already use.

There is also the question of the professionalism and seriousness of the site – would you really want to put a @facebook email address on your CV, a site that is associated with numerous LOLs, embarrassing party photos and Mafia Wars requests?

Hotmail and Yahoo! mail, the largest email clients in the UK, are most likely to lose users to Facebook, but only 6% and 5% of users, respectively, say that they will replace their email with Facebook Messages. While Gmail users are least likely to give up their email account, they are most likely to consider taking up Facebook Messages (alongside their Gmail) – possibly because users of Gmail are more likely to be open to new things, give the access they have to innovative and integrated services, such as Google Chat/GTalk, Google Buzz and the now-defunct Google Wave.

Unsurprisingly, the younger age groups are more likely to take it up, and while women, as a very broad generalisation, are considered be less techie, their love of communication makes them more inclined to want to try it. Using a chat client also leaves one more disposed to consider taking up Facebook Messages.

Finally, those not using any form of social networking don’t see the appeal of the new service – 61% say they are extremely unlikely to start using FB mail, showing that while Facebook is considered to be taking over the world, there is a still a strong camp of “anti-Facebookers”. Surprisingly, given the troubles Facebook has had in the past, security does not appear to be the main concern for those unlikely to use the new service, but rather a general dislike for the site overall.

Whether Facebook Messages lives up to the hype, and provides a seamless service between SMS, email and chat, remains to be seen. But for now it looks like a good proportion of Facebook users are likely to go with it, like they have before, and Mark Zuckerberg will be one step closer to his vision of connecting the entire world on Facebook.

[1] Online research was conducted by GfK NOP among a sample of internet users in the UK (983). Fieldwork was conducted during November 2010.

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Tags: Consumer, Email, , , Gmail, Internet, Online Services, Research, Social Media, Social Networks