Pwede na! ‘Facebook at Work’ is a legit reason to log in at the office

Finally, employees may get a legitimate reason to use Facebook in the workplace, as the social networking giant is working on a version for—well, work.

 

A report on Financial Times cited sources who said the new website, called “Facebook at Work” seeks to compete directly with Google, Microsoft, and LinkedIn.

 

"The new site will look very like Facebook—with a newsfeed and groups—but will allow users to keep their personal profile with its holiday photos, political rants and silly videos separate from their work identity," the FT said.

 

People "familiar with the matter" said the new product aims to allow users to "chat with colleagues, connect with professional contacts and collaborate over documents, competing with Google Drive and Microsoft Office."

 

Also, the FT report said the project has been discussed internally for some time already.

 

It said the product is now being tested with companies as its launch nears, with some engineers developing Facebook at Work are based in London.

 

Presently the FT report noted many companies ban Facebook from the workplace due to concerns on falling productivity as employees spend work time on personal messages and gossip.

 

Challenge to LinkedIn

 

Facebook at Work could seize market share from LinkedIn, a social network geared for professionals with 90 million active monthly users.

 

It could also pose a threat to Google's Drive, Gmail and chat products and Microsoft’s Outlook email service and Office software, as well as Yammer, the corporate social network it bought for $1.2 billion in 2012.

 

But Facebook will have to earn the trust of companies and organizations in holding confidential conversations and sharing important information.

 

Free service –for now

 

Facebook is not likely to charge for the service, at least initially, the FT report concluded. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News