Facebook are expanding their Messages system. Now you can decide how you want to talk to your friends; via SMS, Chat, email or Messages. Well, you could do that previously, or even face-to-face, but now you can make contact via the first four methods in one place on Facebook.

Your friends will receive your message through whatever medium or device they prefer. Essentially, Facebook are promoting the ability to have a conversation in real time.

The biggest news from Facebook this week is that they are now challenging Gmail and other email providers by providing an @facebook.com email address to everyone on Facebook who wants one.

Although it's not strictly an email account, Messages is now even easier to communicate with your friends. All of your messages, whether they are sent via chat, email or SMS will be in one place; you can now see everything you've discussed with each friend as a single conversation.

Messages and email addresses are gradually being made available to everyone over the next few months.