Why Isn't There a Corporate Facebook?

Ran across this MSNBC story about companies getting sick of employees spending time on Facebook, so they're blocking the social networking site. But it makes me wonder: Why hasn't Facebook created a product for internal company use?

I mean, I can friend Conde Nast people and be part of that network, but that's hardly what we're talking about. Couldn't there be a way for me to have a public Facebook profile and a more internal/business Facebook profile -- both accessible through my main Facebook page? Maybe everyone in the company who creates a business profile automatically becomes each others' friends -- almost a cross between a social network and company directory. Of course, then it would be important to wall off the corporate profile from the public profile. Wouldn't want the guy in accounting to see those pics from Mexico...

The whole idea of internal social networks makes a huge amount of sense -- what a great way to build relationships inside a company! But because the few networks like this are not Facebook or MySpace (i.e. not the ones people want to use) and are generally pretty lame anyway, they haven't caught on. Forrester Research expects companies with 1,000 or more employees to spend only $60 million for internal social networks this year. That's like pocket change.

Other companies, like Trampoline, are trying to sell enterprise social networks -- but good luck with that. If the networks aren't the ones employees want to use, they'll sit there, untended.

Wonder if Facebook is even talking about this. Or LinkedIn.

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