Integrating business and leisure into one? This can soon be possible through Microsoft’s upcoming Outlook social connector, the Outlook 2010, which will be released as a part of the Microsoft Office 2010’s beta program later this year. Outlook is known as an email client and personal organizer. However, its upcoming features can change all that.
Microsoft has recently announced the integration of Outlook 2010 with social networking sites. This new Outlook version will give users access to Facebook by drawing updates from the user’ Facebook account and placing that information in the Outlook inbox while he or she is doing office work. Latest friends’ profile updates, pictures, messages, and other online activities from the site can be readily viewed without even opening a new window. The users will also be able to get the same updates from other social networking sites like MySpace, LinkedIn, Windows Live, and SharePoint. Through this big move, Microsoft is hoping to win back its throne from social networking sites in terms of connecting with people online.
However, Microsoft’s announcement about the social integration feature is in hot water. This is because aside from giving its users access to information in their Facebook account, the add-on tab in the program can make it look like the user is working. This new tool can be used if users do not want their bosses and co-workers to know what they are really doing. So, many are speculating that as soon as this will be released, it will pose as a threat to employees’ performance in the office. Others consider it as a convenient tool to help people stay updated.
Views and speculations will soon be answered when the Outlook 2010 beta is released. As of the moment, we will just have to wait and see.
