Google Me Social Network Debut At Google I/O?

Google's plans to challenge Facebook and other social networks with "Google Me" are tipped to come to a head at Google I/O 2011 in May. According to TNW's sources, Google is expected to announce the "social layer" at its developers conference, part of a broad social networking initiative that will touch on all of the search giant's online services.

Google Me was first tipped back in mid-2010, when the company was said to be snapping up casual game studios and other firms with online entertainment expertise. More recently, it has boosted its social integration across the board, fleshing out individual reviews in Google Places and releasing Hotpot on multiple platforms. Whether that will translate to Google Me launching at Google I/O remains to be seen, however.