I agree that it isn't a client but it does provide a way for status updates to be viewed within a business app. Previously our staff would have had to go to Facebook, etc directly.
I can see the temptation to respond to a status update causing staff to be more interrupted with non-business related tasks. The 1 hour limit we have on those websites will help with that. The main thing of interest is the quote below from the connector website with regards to email addresses. From: Tim Vander Kooi [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, 1 May 2010 12:21 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Outlook 2010 - Social Connectors James, I am curious how much you have looked into the connectors, as the LinkedIn connector available now does not do the things that you attribute to it. All it really does is add another level of insight into information about people you email with, in the People Pane at the bottom of the view. It also populates pictures based on the person's profile on the social site. It does not add any level of interaction with the social sites other than making status updates for a person available in the People Pane. It definitely does not make Outlook a social networking client. I have been using it since it came out and was not sure if I would like it at first, but I admit that any information that can be made available to help me organize my day is always helpful. I like it and can't wait for the Facebook connector to be released. YMMV, Tim From: James Hill [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 9:04 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Outlook 2010 - Social Connectors We are currently piloting Outlook 2010 and I'm interested in everyone's thoughts on the Social Connectors. Whilst not all of the connectors<http://office2010.microsoft.com/en-au/outlook/outlook-social-connector-partner-listing-FX101812910.aspx> are available yet it won't be long before they are. What is interesting to me is that it opens up a much larger social/work interconnect then we had before. Whilst we allow staff to use Social Networking apps like Facebook we also limit the amount of use to an hour per day(so they can spend their whole lunch break on there if they wish). But with integration into business apps, Outlook, the potential for interruption will be huge. I'm also curious about the security implications:- * These programs may send the e-mail addresses from e-mail you send and receive to third-party social networks. The social networks may use the e-mail addresses to provide you activity feeds. What's to stop this info being spread to other Facebook apps? Farmtown invites will be going to the CEO from their assistants friends in no time :) Many businesses have a strict policy on social networking which results in zero access. We haven't taken that approach here as some research suggests there MAY be benefits to allowing it. Interesting times ahead. ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
