Internet giant Google blurred the lines between e-mail and instant messaging Thursday, introducing "Google Wave" at a San Francisco conference.

The program, developed by Google Maps team engineers, allows multiple parties to join instant messaging sessions, by adding both typed content and graphics and scrolling back to review previous messages added to the "wave," PC Magazine reported.

"Think of an open-source version of Gmail constructed via instant messaging," PC Magazine said.

The program also allows users to keep waves private or publish them as blogs. Content can also be updated real time.

Google Maps engineer Lars Ramussen said the Google Wave will be extended to use with the mobile phone platform Android.

Google did not announce a launch date for the program, but gave conference attendees access to Google Wave online to preview the program.