Though Facebook has already monopolised the social media market when it comes to our personal lives, it appears Mark Zuckerberg isn't content on stopping there. Sources familiar with the matter have hinted liberally at Facebook's plans to build a business-friendly platform to compete with the likes of Microsoft Office, Google Drive and (of course) LinkedIn, with engineers in London reportedly already underway on the project. It's also been said that Facebook's internal employees have been using the site, dubbed “Facebook at Work” for quite some time already as they fine-tune the platform ahead of its big début.
Sources have hinted liberally at Facebook's plans to build a business-friendly platform to compete with the likes of LinkedIn
If rumours are to be believed, the new site will allow users to maintain separate work and personal accounts, and whilst Facebook at Work will continue to use the site's newsfeed homepage system, the news shared will be of a professional nature and the two feeds will not mix. The site will also be visually similar to 'classic' Facebook, according to a source who said they are aiming to make “Work more fun and efficient.” The source also said they will be coding the platform “On all platforms (web, iOS, Android),” and that it would initially be free to use. It is not known when the site will launch, and Facebook are (at this present moment at least) unwilling to officially comment on the rumours.
Mark Zuckerberg
It's mildly ironic that Facebook are considering a move into the professional realm, considering how notorious the site is amongst employers across the world. In fact, many offices ban Facebook use outright. That being said, a recent survey from Salary.com found that 23% of workers admitted to signing into Facebook during work hours, and considering the site's track record, only a fool (or an eternal pessimist) would bet against them. Facebook also has a pool of over 1 billion users to pull from, compared to LinkedIn's comparatively svelte 300 million (of which only 90 million are active monthly users), so if Facebook choose to target their existing personal users, the results could be monumental.
Facebook is in advanced talks with satellite operator Avanti to front a project which will provide free internet access to parts of Africa
In related news, it was also revealed recently that Facebook is in advanced talks with satellite operator Avanti to front a project which will provide free internet access to parts of Africa. It's all part of founder Mark Zuckerberg's plan to connect the developing world to the internet, and will be launched under the Internet.org initiative, which aims “To bring the Internet to the two thirds of the world’s population that doesn’t have it.” The British company Avanti, which is run by former Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh, owns two broadband satellite systems positioned over the continent, and plans to launch two more in the next few years, providing access to the internet over high frequency radio links.
Avanti's Global Network Coverage
Zuckerberg plans to create “A basic dial tone for the internet,” which will allow people to freely access information services like Wikipedia and social media services like Facebook, believing it will spread digital literacy in the developing world. At a keynote speech back in February, he said “The reasons you might not have connectivity is cost, but then there is also the question of why you would want to spend your money,” and argued that if “You have never had access to the internet, you wouldn't even know why you'd want it.” Of course, the bid has proven controversial amongst key technology players in the developing world, such as Vodafone, but by signing a deal with Avanti, Zuckerberg will be able to completely bypass mobile operators and establish satellite internet access in Africa for a relatively low cost. Nothing official has been announced yet, but it's certainly an auspicious plan, with the might (not to mention acumen) of Facebook and Zuckerberg behind it.
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from Kidderminster in the UK. He's constantly checking Facebook when he's meant to be working. In fact. Let me just...
