Facebook releases Workplace Chat app for Mac and PC

Facebook has secretly launched a new desktop chat app for Mac and PC called Workplace Chat, that is currently limited to users of the company's Workplace Enterprise collaboration tool. The app seems to have the same functionality as the " target="_blank" rel="noopener">Workplace Chat website.

"This was one of the most widely requested features by customers, so we built it," Facebook spokesperson Vanessa Chan told TechCrunch. "The desktop app is still in beta and being tested by Workplace customers who are providing feedback that we'll use to improve the product before a wider rollout."

According to Facebook, the app supports voice and video calling, screen-sharing, customized push notifications and one-to-one and group chats. The company has also launched a feature called Screen Sharing, in which users can elect to share their entire desktop workspace or only certain app windows(for example, you might only share Excel or your web browser, but not Slack or your email client.), a key consideration that benefits user privacy. Screen sharing is now available on both the Workplace Chat desktop apps and on the web.

The Workplace Chat app can be downloaded for Mac and PC via the company's website(the Mac app requires macOS 10.9 Mavericks and above to work).