Workplace by Facebook opens to organizations across the globe

More than 1,000 organizations are currently using Workplace by Facebook, and now you’ll be able to, as well. Workplace (formerly Facebook at Work) is currently used around the world as an internal communication and collaboration tool to bring teams together.

To date, more than 100,000 groups have been created within Workplace, and companies such as Starbucks, Danone and Campbell’s have embraced the platform. Workplace is positioned as a global connectivity solution that can harness some of the best technology from the social network.

Pricing will depend on how many users a company requires.

• Up to 1,000 users: $3/user
• 1,001 to 10,000 users: $2/user
• 10,001+ users: $1/user

Want to give Workplace a whirl? The first three months are free to try.

Here are a few features that may drive companies to use Workplace:

• Groups & multi-company groups
  A logical crossover from Facebook is the groups feature which is prominent in Workplace. Groups allow for communication, sharing and Live video.
  One of the more appealing aspects of Workplace is the ability to create multi-company groups. The project collaboration market would be a nice niche for Workplace thanks to multi-company capabilities.
• Work Chat
  Facebook Messenger has become one of the top messaging apps due to its ease of use, flexibility and features.
  Work Chat appears to be a repurposed version that allows for team chat, sending files and a 1-to-1 communication that is available on Google Play and the App Store.
• Live video streaming
  One of the biggest draws to Workplace may be the power of Facebook’s Live video platform inside the privacy of a closed work group.
  
  This would allow users to share with the right people and leverage reactions in real time and should instantly become a leader in the corporate live communication space.

Workplace is ad-free and won’t have an impact on your personal Facebook account. The move to brand the product as Workplace (without the main Facebook logo on the website) is a smart one, as most users utilize Facebook for personal use. The biggest element that may bring Workplace success over the likes of Yammer/Chatter is the integration of Live video. Other competitors currently lack the ability to address and communicate instantly over video. Another benefit Workplace brings is that price per seat can be lower than it is for both Yammer and Chatter.

To sign up for three free months, head over to the official Workplace site.