Google tries again to challenge Facebook

Jun 28, 2011, 22:10 GMT

New York - Google Inc, the world's largest internet search company, is launching a new social networking site to compete with Facebook, the company said Tuesday.

The service, called Google+, looks similar to Facebook including streaming updates of photos, messages, comments and other content from selected friends, said Bradley Horowitz, vice president of Google product management.

Facebook, the world's most popular social network, captured 13 per cent of total hours people spent online in May, while Google attracted 10 per cent, according to ComScore Inc. Google aims to challenge Facebook for the advertising dollars gained by more use.

'It's something that is changing the quality of Google itself,' Horowitz was quoted as saying by Bloomberg financial news service. 'It's the Google you know and love, but now with people.'

Google's attempt last year to launch a similar service, called Buzz, failed over privacy concerns. Google reached a settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission to resolve concerns it violated its own privacy policies.

The new Google+ service will first be tested in small, specially invited group.