MySpace is set to launch its brand new email service to the 68 million people in the U.S., making it the second largest email provider in the country. However, that doesn’t mean that those people want MySpace Mail.

The beta rollout of MySpace Mail will start today for users around the globe. Users will be able to send emails to other MySpace members as well as any outside email address.

When you sign up for the service, your MySpace username becomes your email address. For example, if your username is “blorge”, your email address would be “blorge@myspace.com”.

The MySpace Mail will replace the previous messaging system and enable users to attach pictures in a quick one-step process. The messaging system accounts for 20 percent of the site’s traffic, so this could be an important new revenue stream for the company.

Don’t count on MySpace email to rocket to the top of the U.S. mail provider ranking right away. Well over half of MySpace’s users would have to sign up for MySpace email to match Google, AOL or Hotmail.

The MySpace messaging center provides a quick view of the latest incoming and outgoing activity in your mailbox. From there, you get launched into a fairly standard, although custom built, email interface.

Another oddity of MySpace Mail is that it doesn’t have a built in email search capability. In order to search through your messages in MySpace Mail, you have to install Google Gears plugin into your browser.

Lastly, there’s the problem that has been haunting this project from its outset – spam. When the address of your MySpace page gives away your email address, spammers will be able to target MySpace Mail’s users far too easily.

With the declining MySpace user base and childish and unprofessional connotation of a MySpace email address, it’s hard to imagine it taking off. If you’re thinking about making MySpace your primary email address, let us know in the comments.

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Entry was posted on Friday, July 31st, 2009 at 10:00 am under Social Media.

Read more entries by Dave Jeyes.
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