Using the world's biggest social network during office hours might not be considered slacking off for much longer, with the expected launch of Facebook at Work.
The world's biggest social network is hoping to get a foothold in the business market, according to the Financial Times, which claims the company is developing a product designed specifically to foster communication between co-workers
Facebook at Work will allow users to "chat with colleagues, connect with professional contacts and collaborate over documents", according to the FT, which claims the product is already being tested with some companies ahead of a full launch.
Facebook at Work could step on the toes of a number of other web services aimed at professionals. Inter-office communications would compete directly with rival social networks such as Yammer, which Microsoft bought for $US1.2 billion in 2012.
The option to establish contact with business contacts would target LinkedIn, which is currently the best known social network for professionals.
Document collaboration, meanwhile, would go head-to-head with services such as Google Drive and Microsoft Office Online. Unlike Google and Microsoft, which charge businesses to use such services, Facebook plans to let companies use its service for free, according to the FT, at least initially.
Matter of trust?
The biggest potential stumbling block for Facebook at Work is whether companies will be prepared to entrust sensitive business data to the social network, which has a chequered privacy record.
Facebook generates most of its revenue by harvesting user data to deliver targeted ads, but whether businesses will be happy to have the social network storing and picking through their data is questionable.
Larger enterprises may also seek assurances as to where their data is being held. Data stored on US servers, for example, would be subject to US laws and could potentially be examined by American law enforcement agencies.
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