After launching a new profile layout, Facebook is now testing a new instant messaging service. It should be available to the public (probably) some time this week.
The first thing you should know is that this is a web based service that will be built into your Facebook page and not software you install on your computer.
It was rumored to be built on the Jabber open source platform like GTalk, so Instant Messaging clients like Trillian or web chat service like Meebo or eBuddy could support it, but later info showed that it won’t be, at least not at first.
If you remember AOL buying Bebo for $850M last week, this new announcement with Facebook’s IM service is coming in a very sensible moment. Will people forget about AIM and the Bebo deal will turn out to be a bad investment? Probably, but we can’t say for sure.
TechCrunch is waiting for the first screenshot and will make it available asap.
