Facebook has features that does both of those, plus everything that emails can do. Difference being that Facebook is cross-platform - so I can send/recieve messages and IMs on pretty much any device that exists now - and, certainly in the case of SMS, Facebook messaging is far cheaper - they also allow for better group discussions. No doubt Facebook will get VoIP someday soon, meaning cheap and easy phone calls to your friends, too.

Simply put - Facebook does those things better, and cheaper. If you want to have segregated contact lists, have a lower quality service, and pay more, that's down to you - hundreds of millions are choosing the better option now, though.

or perhaps you just want some privacy. I'm not a real big fan of facebook. I have one mainly because I use it to run the work facebook. Seems like its puts too much of your life out there like myspace did.

Facebook is NOT a teenagers thing, i dont get why some people are reacting that way to it.

it's a great way to keep in touch with friends who live in other countries or find friends that you lost contact with.

i'm 26, of my friends about 99% has facebook. Even my mom has facebook, she finds friends in there that she hadnt seen in ages.

it's not facebook's fault if all your friends are in their teens. i have my privacy settings set so that i cant be bothered by anyone who's not on my friend list.

dont downplay something just because you dont know how to use it.

Well I think if FaceBook decided to enter the browser industry and put a web browser on their site alongside their page browser. Then they could definatly rival google and over a longer period of time could eventually over take them. However when Google's long awaited OS comes out and people start using Chrome and Google as their home page I bet numbers will jump higher especially if the OS ends up being a success and rivalling Windows.

Google has many cards up their sleeves as does FaceBook. But I don't think FaceBook will over power Google on a regular basis for a while longer.