Microsoft has launched a service that makes it possible to use Facebook to share office documents - text, spreadsheets and presentations - with others: Docs for
Facebook became public last Thursday, although it is still in "beta." Those who sign up on the site, be listed on a waiting list and notified when they can begin to try it out. Documents can be initiated within the service, or you can upload that file from your computer. Whoever owns the document, decide who can do what with it. Access to both reading and editing can be restricted to a limited amount of Facebook friends. The function of this is done easily accessible.
Those given editing rights can make changes either through the Web edition of Office, or through PC's or Mac’s own installed version.
Documents shared by Facebook is shown in the service's news feed. You can decide whether those who are not granted the right to view or edit a document, to be notified about it through news feed.
Microsoft warns that such Docs now works for Facebook, it is not possible to change the document's title in the flow of news: One can give a document a new title, but there will always be the first title mentioned in the news stream.
Docs for Facebook was developed by Microsoft FUSE Labs, a group that has a mandate to explore "future social experiences", according to a text posted on the group's website. The development will have taken four months from concept to beta.
For those who are familiar with Microsoft Office, and that is not reluctant to use Facebook, it is obvious that the service achieves the easy sharing of documents in groups, in both NGO’s and businesses.
