Silicon Valley has traditionally been anti-Microsoft and with Facebook, one of the largest companies in that region now utilizing the platform, it could be the start of winning over more companies in that market.
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Facebook has signed a deal to migrate its employees to Office 365, rolling out Microsoft’s web-based email and calendar services to its 13,000-strong global workforce.
Revealed during the 2016 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto, the social media giant is adding an email component to its internal Facebook at Work network, while also leveraging Microsoft’s Clipboard-Style app Delve.
Rumor has it that Microsoft and Facebook have been negotiating an agreement in the last few months, so the social network will soon make the switch to Office 365 for all its employees. Until now, Facebook was using on-premise Exchange-based solution and is currently shifting towards cloud services.
For example, Office 365 apps will be available for Facebook employees with apps such Word and Excel, but on the other hand, Yammer, Redmond’s very own business social network won’t be offered. Facebook at Work lets co-workers communicate and share content through the company’s familiar web user interface, along with security and administration features designed for corporate technology managers. That resonates with Facebook’s own “move fast” mantra, Campos says.
Facebook chief information officer Tim Campos, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal said that Facebook at Work will be used internally, but email still has its place. Since Office 365 works on Macs, PCs, iPhones, and Android, it meets those needs soundly. Its use has, however, evolved. They turn to e-mail to connect with vendors, job recruits and others outside their organisation.
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In addition, Campos called out the intelligent capabilities in Office 365 as a key part of Facebook’s interest in the office suite.
