MySpace challenges older players with launch of beta e-mail service

MySpace launched its own e-mail service, MySpace Mail, for the 130 million users of the social network.

MySpace Mail, which was rolled out in beta, or test version, would be available to all international users of MySpace "within the next couple of weeks", MySpace said in a statement. "MySpace Mail creates a more meaningful, fun, and social experience around one of the most popular activities on MySpace," it said.

MySpace said MySpace Mail would allow users of the News Corporation-owned social network to "communicate and share content with people both inside and outside the MySpace network". "MySpace enters the mail category with the potential to be the second largest mail provider in the US and the fourth largest in the world," it said.

MySpace, by entering the e-mail space on the web, has thrown down a challenge

to more established e-mail services such as Google's Gmail, Yahoo! mail and Microsoft's Hotmail.

Current MySpace users can create a MySpace Mail account using their current user name on the social network, adding a myspace.com address, said MySpace.

MySpace Mail allows users to embed photos directly from their profile into e-mail, to send music and video as attachments and offers unlimited storage, it said.

MySpace has been facing stiff competition from rival Facebook and announced steep job cuts recently, slashing its domestic employees by approximately 30 per cent and also cutting back on its international staff. Facebook replaced MySpace last year as the world's most popular social network, and industry figures show it has been widening its lead.

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