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As anticipated, Yahoo has embedded instant messaging features inside its email program, allowing consumers to run the two programs in one web browser, reports Reuters.

Before, Yahoo's 250 million email subscribers had to download a separate application to use Yahoo Messenger. Embedding instant messaging makes email "an even more social experience" - by transforming how one communicates from a letter-writing experience into a back-and-forth chat, John Kremer, vice-president of Yahoo Mail, is quoted as saying.

Yahoo is not the first to blend instant message with email: Google incorporates its Google Talk messaging system inside Gmail, while Microsoft's email service alerts a user when email recipients are also on instant messaging. It allows the user to send messages to either email or instant messaging recipients.

Yahoo plans to gradually upgrade the accounts of all Yahoo Mail users in coming months.