Web-based CRM software provider Salesforce.com has launched a Facebook application for connecting data from the two services. Appropriately named Faceforce, the application allows you to see things like your contact record (which is kept in your Salesforce.com account) side-by-side with a user’s Facebook profile, assuming they are list as a friend. In theory, this enables a more personal relationship between sales people and their customers by letting them know more about each other.
It should be noted that Salesforce.com is essentially the Facebook of the business space, offering a robust platform called AppExchange for which hundreds of companies have built applications. Faceforce was built in collaboration between a product manager at Salesforce.com and a software engineer at Facebook. It should be noted that the application is not officially affiliated with either company.
With Facebook usage increasing amongst professionals, the application could prove popular. It’s also another thorn in the side of LinkedIn, as there is now yet another feature that makes Facebook more attractive to professionals.