fbwork_press_newsfeedFacebook has offered a glimpse at its new workplace collaboration product today with the soft launch of its Facebook at Work app for the iPhone.

The free app, which is currently available on the App Store, gives people access to a special work-oriented version of the social network, complete with messaging, groups, event planning and even a separate work profile so people can keep their sharing at work separate from their personal profile. In essence, the company wants to turn its wildly popular social network for friends – along with all the tools it has created – and turn it into a tool that people can also use at work without having to worry about marrying their personal and professional lives too much.

facebook212Not everyone can use the app right now, though. Employers first need to sign up for Facebook at Work, and the company thus far has only given out invites to a hand-picked set of enterprises. People who want to join can request more information from Facebook through a link inside the app.

The launch of an enterprise collaboration product puts Facebook into direct competition with a bunch of other enterprise-focused businesses, including Microsoft’s Yammer, which offers similar functionality. It also comes just as Slack, a chat and collaboration program that’s a rising startup in the field, announced that it has 45,000 teams on its service, including ones at the New York Times, AirBnB and more.

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