Google Wave review - our first impressions

Like a cross between email, instant messaging and social networking, Google Wave has the potential to revolutionise the way we communicate over the internet - and that's why it's so thrilling that we've got an invite to see how it works.

We've found it very easy to use, especially because it features the same interface whether you're communicating instantaneously with someone else online, or sending a message for someone to pick up later.

Groups of people can use it to collaborate on a single wave (what the system calls its message threads), and it's easy to drop pictures and videos directly into your messages.

Google Wave trials to begin

As if that wasn't exciting enough, the system is also open to plug-ins. A bunch of these are already available - for things like Google Maps, games, weather - and the list is growing all the time.

Google Wave not fully available until late 2010

Because of the real-time collaboration element, games of chess can be as quick as playing face-to-face or turns can wait for days until the next time you go online. Sudoku can be turned from a lonely pastime into a competitive affair.

Or, if you're going on a group outing, you can put all the places you want to go and see into a Google Map, as your travelling companions do the same thing at the same time. You'll see their updates as you're adding your own. You could then discuss the merits of each place within the wave. When you get back, use a new wave to share all your photos.

Google Wave invite scam warning

It's these dual elements of timeliness and collaboration that we think are the main strengths of Google Wave. When using it, you don't need to decide whether to send an email or an instant message because it simply doesn't matter - waves are both types of message at the same time. And with the ability to edit as you communicate, working and playing with other people becomes a whole lot easier.

The biggest downside is that it takes a heavy toll on Google's servers. To ensure that those who are already testing it have a useful experience there are only several hundred thousand people on it. That may sound like a lot but you may still struggle to find many (or any) friends. The expected date for it to become open to everyone is the latter end of 2010. However, people already on the waiting list should get invited to join in sooner than that.