Workplace Chat by Facebook for iOS

Workplace Chat by Facebook enables you to communicate with your professional team members in a standalone Facebook Messenger-like app. Connect with coworkers via messages, voice or video calls, and group chats.

Pros

Easy to set up: Create an account with an email and password, and then invite coworkers by entering their emails or by sharing an invitation link via text.

Robust messaging options: In Workplace Chat, you can send coworkers text messages, files, pictures, voice memos, and even dozens of GIFs and stickers -- just like in Facebook Messenger.

Solo or group chats: Chat one-on-one or with several coworkers in group chats.

Notifications: Turn on notifications to see message alerts instantly. You can also set them to only sound or vibrate or turn notifications off altogether under Settings. Another feature we love is Show Previews. Here you can determine whether to reveal or conceal message previews in alerts and banners when you're in another app or not using your phone. We recommend you hide previews in case prying eyes are watching if you're discussing sensitive work info.

Security- and privacy-focused: To protect your security and privacy when using the app, Facebook says it relies on "comprehensive threat intelligence and specialized tools to prevent and detect unauthorized access to your data." Head to the Security on Workplace page for more info.

Cons

Workplace users only: You can use Facebook Messenger with or without a Facebook account, but to use Workplace Chat, your company must be using Workplace on Facebook. Only those with your business email domains can join: While this feature helps prevent unauthorized users from outside of your organization from accessing your confidential work-related chats, it also prevents contractors and freelancers, who may not be set up with your organization's business email domain but need to be part of these discussions from taking part.

Bottom Line

With its robust messaging options and focus on security and privacy, Workplace Chat by Facebook is worth a look if you are searching for a new way to communicate with professional colleagues on the go.Workplace by Facebook is only one of several pushes Facebook is making into enterprise software, according to Mark Zuckerberg's F8 keynote. Check out TechRepublic's breakdown for more.