Internet search giant Googlehas introduced a new social networking platform, called Google+, as a part of its efforts to take world’s leading social network Facebook.

Google’s new social networking site allows users to share messages, photos and comments. In addition, it integrates the Google's maps and images. Users can also easily organize contacts within groups.

Announcing the new social networking service, senior vice president of engineering Vic Gundotra at Google said, "Online sharing needs a serious re-think, so it's time we got started."

But, some experts are of the view that Google+ simply offers the same features already available at Facebook, except for the video chat function.

Currently, Google+ is available only to a small number of users, but the search firm has assured that its social network would soon be available to the millions of people around the globe who use its services each day.

It is not Google’s first attempt to take on Facebook. Earlier, the world’s most popular Internet search firm introduced Google Wave and Google Buzz, but they ended in failure.

Facebook is currently the world’s most popular social network, with more than half a billion users worldwide.