Serena Software, a company I previously mentioned because they allow employees one hour per week to work on their Facebook profiles, has apparently taken Facebook further than anyone ever thought would happen.

First reported by SDA Asia, and then FASTForward Blog, Serena Software has taken to using Facebook as the frontend for their corporate intranet. Different folks in the company post links to information which is stored behind the corporate firewall.

This is an interesting spin on adding a social element to the typical intranet. I’ve worked with companies that host blogs within the intranet as well as discussion forums. They have also created sections of the intranet where an employee can build their own profile complete with photos and outside of work interests. Doing the same thing, but with Facebook, Serena Software saves the cost of development and hosting the application. They also gain interconnectivity with partners and potential employees.

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Over at the Official Gmail Blog they have announced the ability to chat with AIM users through the Gmail web interface (just like you can chat with Gtalk users through the web interface). I think AIM is still the defacto instant messenger standard, especially among the less geeky among us, so this is a great integration feature. Hopefully they move forward with integrating other networks in to the service. Or, maybe they should just acquire Meebo and integrate that.

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I posted about live-documents.com back on November 23. Now they have posted screen shots and it appears that the name isn’t the only thing creeping close to Microsoft intellectual property.

Here is a screenshot of Live Documents presentation software (think PowerPoint)

Now, here is a screenshot of Powerpoint 2007

Next, a screenshot of Live Document’s spreadsheet tool

Compare to Excel 2007

TechCrunch, Digital Inspiration

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On November 30, TechCrunch posted an entry titled “Will IRSeeK Have a Chilling Effect on IRC Chat?”. Well, apparently it will. After receiving hundreds of emails, IRSeeK announced on their blog yesterday that service has been suspended.

IRC operaters and users complained about the privacy implications of having IRC conversations logged and searchable on-line. While these conversations take place in what is considered public space, many users were apparently not happy with having their remarks archived for the world to see.

IRSeeK is looking to take steps to ensure that they meet the following suggestions:

• Anonymizing nicknakes
• Provide a method for channel operators to opt-out
• Ensure bots only archive public channels that have not opted-out
• Making bots detectable by nickname and providing a link to their policies
• Better explain policies on their website

Seems like someone should have checked with at least the IRC operators before indexing what happens on their IRC servers.

Slashdot, Techdirt
Update (12/4 20:20): Here are freenode’s (an IRC network) remarks on IRSeeK. The way IRSeeK went about this seems pretty slimy, using Tor to hide their bots with two possible motives I see: to log stealthily or to evade bans/kills, etc.

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Facebook came to their senses Thursday and have turned Beacon to opt-in. Previously, Beacon was an opt-out program and difficult to opt-out of at that.

Facebook users will be prompted to allow “stories” from participating sites before the first story is published. This prompt now happens on login. If the user does nothing with the prompt, the story will not be published.

Facebook is still storing the data and it is still accessible to advertisers, but at least it won’t be published to your friends. Opt-in on the partnering sites would be nice, but I don’t think it is likely to come.

A related note, Coca-Cola was under the impression that Beacon was supposed to be opt-in all along. When they found out that it wasn’t they backed out of the program before launch.

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