Facebook Testing Work Product for Business
Photo by: FaceBook
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Facebook is preparing a potential big jump into the enterprise space.
The social network has started testing Facebook at Work — which would allow businesses to tailor their own social network available to employees — with a handful of partners.
Users create special profiles separate from their personal Facebook account that is only accessible to their employer. Most of the same features such as Groups, Messages and the News Feed will be featured in the Work product.
According to a description of Work’s iOS app, employees can use the News Feed to stay updated on company events, collaborate with co-workers in Groups or send Messages to one or a smaller group of colleagues. The app is also available on Android.
The new product was first reported by TechCrunch, which says no details were provided on whether third-party apps will be accessible through Work.
Facebook is among several tech companies targeting the enterprise market, which already boasts big players including Microsoft and Google. Last year, Apple struck a partnership with IBM to develop a variety of business apps for the iPhone and iPad. The first of those apps rolled out last month.
Use of Facebook in the workplace had been frowned upon by companies as a distraction, says Martin Pyykkonen of Rosenblatt Securities, but as the social network has gone mainstream, companies are more open to the platform. “It’s more of a work group, collaboration tool that they have an interest in, and there’s enough traffic and enough acceptance that they can put that in there.”
