Google launches new social-networking tool, Google+

Google has developed a new social networking website that integrates the software giant's maps into the service.

Google+ is currently in the trail stage but the aim is to let users share messages, comments and photos and also includes a video chat function.

In a blog posted by Vic Gundotra, senior vice president of engineering for Google, he said: "Today, the connections between people increasingly happen online. Yet the subtlety and substance of real-world interactions are lost in the rigidness of our online tools.

"In this basic, human way, online sharing is awkward. Even broken. And we aim to fix it. Online sharing needs a serious re-think, so it's time we got started."

Whether the new tool will prove as popular as sites such as Facebook remains to be seen but Google believes that the four features in Google+ could propel it as a serious player in the social networking field.

Circles allow people to place friends into groups and share different content with targeted friends. Hangouts is a live multi-user video conferencing tool, Huddle offers group instant messaging and Sparks connects people to videos and content they may find interesting.

At the moment Google+ is in the testing phase and participation is by invite only. But the tool can be downloaded from the Android Marketplace and people can sign up for an invite.

However Google warned that, as it is still being trialled, users "may find some rough edges".