MOSCOW, November 17 (Sputnik) — Facebook has reportedly been developing a website for professional use to rival the popular career oriented network LinkedIn, the Financial Times reports, citing people familiar with the matter.
The new service “could also challenge Google’s drive, email and chat products and Microsoft’s Outlook email service, Office software and Yammer, the corporate social network it bought for $1.2bln in 2012,” the newspaper stated.
However, many companies, dissatisfied with their employees wasting time on checking personal messages and browsing through the newsfeed, have banned Facebook in the workplace. “To become an integral part of office life, Facebook will need to win [their] trust,” the Financial Times stressed.
Facebook’s new service, currently known as “Facebook at Work”, will allow users to separate their personal and professional accounts. This feature will appeal to those who do not want to disclose personal information, such as opinionated status updates or photos, the Independent pointed out.
The new career social network will resemble Facebook in design. Like the parent social network, it is rumored to have newsfeeds and groups. The service, which initially is expected to be free of charge, will let users chat with their coworkers, connect with work-related contacts and conjointly work on documents.
“Facebook at Work” is reported to be undergoing trials as its launch approaches, according to the Financial Times. The exact date when the new product will be unveiled is unknown.
Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004. As of September, Facebook, reportedly worth more than $200 billion, has over 1 billion active users.
