Facebook Launches a Desktop Version of Its Workplace Chat App

Unknown October 07, 2017 0

Users have been requesting it for months, and now it seems that Facebook has stealthily launched an official desktop chat app for screen-sharing.

While the feature is currently only available on Facebook Workplace – a chat software similar to Slack – experts suggest it could one day be launched on Messenger.

The feature allows users to share their full-screen or specific desktop apps with co-workers.

TechCrunch spotted a beta version of the desktop Workplace app this week, within which was the new screen-sharing feature.

Facebook launched Workplace last year, and it is currently being used by over 14,000 businesses who pay between $1 and $3 (75p and £2.30) per user.

But the new desktop app allows co-workers to message each other throughout the day without having to rely on a browser tab.

The beta app, dubbed Workplace Chat, functions similarly to the Workplace website, and boasts the same text chat and media sharing capabilities.

The app has a main dashboard of all your conversations, text search, and photo, video, voice clip, emoji, GIF, and web cam sharing.

You can also set up desktop notifications that appear over other windows so you never miss a message.

Vanessa Chan, a spokesperson for Facebook, told TechCrunch: 'This was one of the most widely requested features by customers, so we built it.

'The desktop app is still in beta and being tested by Workplace customers who are providing feedback that we'll use to improve the product before a wider rollout.'

Within the Workplace desktop app is the new screen-sharing feature. Users can decide whether to share their full screen or a specific app with co-workers.

For example, they can choose to share a PowerPoint presentation with them, without showing other apps running. 

It is unclear if the user you share your screen with is able to work edit it, or just see it. 

A spokesperson for Facebook said: 'We're currently testing internally the ability for Facebook employees to choose to share their screen content in Workplace in a chat. We don't have any additional details to share at this time.'

It is unclear when the Workplace Chat desktop app will become widely available.

Source: DailyMail

Send us a news tip, Advert/ Promotion enquiries, General enquiries, Complain about a story, Submit an opinion, Submit a photo, audio or video etc. Send mail to bobojaytv @gmail.com