Facebook Inc FB is stepping into the workplace networking arena to face up against heavyweights like Microsoft Corporation MSFT and International Business Machines Corp. IBM by introducing a work-appropriate social media site that focuses on collaboration.
The new program is set to hit app stores on Wednesday under the name 'Facebook At Work' and will be available to a select number of companies through both the iOS and Android platforms.
Facebook executives say the program is still being developed, but that the interface is designed to replace email and will offer employees a familiar way to communicate and collaborate effectively. The new site will be similar to Facebook’s social networking platform, a good selling point as employees will likely need little training.
'Facebook At Work' will operate differently than the social media site in that it won’t retain any user data and will not sell advertising space. Activities on the work site will be kept private and will not affect a user’s social profile.
However, some say the app could face trust issues with companies that are worried about privacy since Facebook is well known for gathering personal data and storing it for advertising use.
Facebook’s foray into the corporate space represents the company’s latest shift to diversify its customer base. Since the new app will not retain user data or sell advertising space, most expect a some type of membership fee to fund the program.
The concept has been in development at Facebook since November, but the company says the new software is still evolving.
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