Google has launched their own response to the popularity of social networks with Google Buzz, a service that adopts elements of both Twitter and Facebook and is launching this week within Gmail. The service allows users to create social profiles and share written posts that include rich content such as web links, videos, and photographs in a way that encourages a conversational exchange of comments. The update will start to appear through the accounts of some Gmail users starting today, followed by the rest of over the course of this week. A new box, labelled "Buzz", will appear just under the standard inbox to provide constant notifications on updates. Buzz profiles can be connected to Twitter, Flickr, and Picasa, and web apps for the service are already available for use on cellphones through Buzz.Google.com

Buzz adopts elements from both Facebook and Twitter. Users "follow" each other and can direct messages to each other with an @ command, passing on interesting comments and sharing links to entertaining content, but without a limit to the number of characters in the message. Users who read these "posts" can add their own comments to create a back-and-forth conversation about the topic and even mark ones for a recommendation to their friends. You can createposts for public broadcasting or for private sharing and when it comes to the photos and videos being shared, Buzz includes rich media viewers to let you see them right away within the Buzz interface itself. 

One aspect that may give some users pause is the service's aggressive drive to include GPS coordinates. Cellphone users will find Buzz wanting to include your current location with every post you share.  

While Gmail users will need to wait for Buzz to be added to their accounts, Buzz can be accessed right now through the Buzz web app. Just use your mobile browser and surf to http://www.google.com/buzz install the app and try it out. 

You can also use the mobile version of Google Maps on Android-powered devices (check the Android Market for the new update) to view public posts from Buzz users in your area, just activate the Buzz layer from the settings menu.