FaceoffIM has released a free, standalone chat client that allows users to connect to Facebook Chat while avoiding the workplace taboo of actually being on Facebook. The FIM interface is gray, blocky and utterly corporate.
Besides the too-boring-to-arouse-suspicion design, FIM features a “panic button” to quickly minimize the application to your system tray should your boss wander over for input on the TPS reports. Hiding the conversation doesn’t close it, so you can go back to planning your weekend as soon as the interloper gets distracted by free donuts in the staff kitchen. There is also a system tray icon that lights up to indicate incoming messages while the program is minimized.
FIM allows unlimited tabbed chatting to facilitate social multi-tasking. After all, you want to stay productive, right?
This will fit the bill for a lot of office workers and school kids pretending to do their homework on the family desktop. If you work in a software or tech firm, it’s probably not going to fly. The geeks are either going to ask where you’re hiding the mainframe, or they’re going to know exactly what you’re up to. Especially since I just told them.
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| Main Screen: Looks Like IM interface |
Chat Screen: Looks like a chat screen |
