Top 10 Facebook Apps: Work
As part of Facebook Week here on Read/WriteWeb, I am going to be taking a look at the top applications on the Facebook platform. With nearly 1800 apps, the platform has been a runaway success for Facebook, and the most popular ten applications reach over 46 million users. I'm going to be breaking those 1800 apps down to the top 50 across 5 categories (10 in each). This is a completely subjective list, so not everyone will agree with our picks and I encourage you to debate them in the comments.
There are a lot of duplicates on the Facebook platform (i.e., there are at least 10 apps for cataloging books!), and some duplicates even share the same name. In that case, as with the rest of this list, I just chose the one that stood out to me as the best. Today's list deals with apps for work.
Simple Stock Quotes
You need to know what's going down on Wall Street and the Simple Stock Quotes app is the nicest way to get that done. It is super easy to set up, blends exceptionally well with the Facebook look and feel, and can fit nicely in either profile column. Simple Stock Quotes also adds a bit of a social aspect by letting you check out the stocks your friends are tracking, as well as the community at large (the most watched stock so far? AAPL, followed closely by GOOG).
To-Do
To-Do is my favorite GTD app on Facebook. Add tasks, categorize, prioritize and add a due date. Due dates with To-Do are smart, so type "tomorrow" or "friday" and the app will know which day your task is due. Tasks can easily be edited or deleted (which is how you mark them as complete).
Not all of your business contacts are on Facebook, so when you need to contact someone on the outside, intrasite messaging just won't work. Enter Email, an app that lets you send email to anyone directly from within Facebook. Emails appear to be sent from your real email address, and if the recipient uses the provided web form link to reply, the replies are kept threaded in the app, which looks and feels basically like the default Facebook messaging app.
Calendar
The Calendar app from 30Boxes is the nicest calendar on Facebook, in my opinion. It is a complete personal calendar solution that includes SMS reminders and a built-in to-do list function. You can also share upcoming events to you Facebook profile.
Zoho - Online Office
The Zoho app loads your Zoho documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and databases into Facebook. It can map to a current Zoho account and migrate your docs over, or you can create a new user. There are still a few bugs, and it isn't as fully integrated into Facebook as it probably could be, but even so, a full office suite that you don't need to leave Facebook to use is great.
Docs
Docs is a document sharing application from Scribd that already has over 50,000 uploaded documents. They tout it as a way to share "problems sets, poetry, lecture notes, and random funny stuff." However, despite their warnings, I can't help but think that some unscrupulous college students see Docs as a good way to plagiarize papers.
BillMonk
BillMonk is a great app that lets you track who owes you money and how much money you owe others. BillMonk is an infinitely useful application for anyone who has to deal with roommates and it follows the Facebook design conventions nicely.
WalkieTalkie
WalkieTalkie adds free group chat to Facebook groups. Sometimes you just need to say it out loud, so WalkieTalkie can be a valuable tool for businesses that want to use Facebook as groupware.
Application Developer Services
Since you're reading Read/WriteWeb, there is a good chance that you're an app developer yourself. If you're looking to break into the Facebook app market, but don't really know where to start, then install the Application Developer Services app. It's sort of a marketplace for Facebook developers. App developers get a profile where they can show off their portfolio of Facebook apps, and businesses can search for the perfect developer for their application.
Lending Club
Well, now you have your programmer, but you need the cash to make your app a reality. Lending Club is a peer lending application that lets users take out loans funded by other users. Lending club opened on Facebook on May 24th, and has already lent out over $250,000 to Facebook users.
Conclusion
Those are the top 10 Facebook applications that can help you get some work done. Which apps did we skip that you think should be in the top 10? Which apps shouldn't be on our list? Please let us know in the comments. And be sure to check back in tomorrow for part 2 of our list. Let the debate begin!
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Facebook is an interesting site but for most users there is very little difference between Facebook, Friendster and Myspace.
Posted by: Zip Drugs legal discount online pharmacy | July 16, 2007 12:55 PM
Zoho is not only an online productivity suite, it is a collaborative tool. So now you can work on Documents, Spreadsheets and Presentations, and then request collaborative feedback from your group on Facebook.
I wrote up a walkthrough about how to use Zoho on Facebook.
http://scissormonkey.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/zoho-does-facebook-a-walk-through/
Posted by: Thomas | July 16, 2007 7:08 PM
Thanks for this list. I'm trying out Email and To-Do, and am excited to try out WalkieTalkie as some colleagues and I have been wishing for IM/chat.
Posted by: Dave Donohue | July 16, 2007 7:14 PM
"I Am Green" lets you and your friends work in a way that's sustainable for the planet. It's the 7th largest business app on facebook, because our economic and work choices are among the most important ones to make green.
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?api_key=a1b3fff3cee92436e04e2307ebc5b364
I Am Green
Posted by: Karel | July 16, 2007 10:30 PM
You list a site for tracking stocks as the first link, but futures are at least as good an investment in the current pricey stock market.
So, Fantasy Futures Exchange lets you track your futures positions, and see what other positions would do.
Fantasy Futures Exchange
Posted by: Karel | July 16, 2007 10:34 PM
Using Facebook as an online office is very interesting idea. I will try it and if I got addicted within a moth I will start using it on regular basis!
Thank you!
Regards,
William
Posted by: William Profet :: OneJobTwoSalaries.com | July 17, 2007 1:10 AM
This is a useful tool to use before and after work for checking your commute conditions....
http://apps.facebook.com/trafficwatch/
There is also a widget/gadget version...
http://www.trafficwatch.co.nz/
Cheers,
Gerry
Posted by: Gerry Thompson | July 17, 2007 1:32 AM
If you are looking to generate screencasts of your desktop for making a quick demo of a website or software or even PowerPoint presentation, Webinaria is a good option. http://apps.facebook.com/webinaria
Posted by: Chris Charlwood | July 17, 2007 5:49 AM
Nice collection of F.B apps, I would like to see some fun apps also in the collection.
Vijay
Posted by: vijay kumar | July 17, 2007 7:40 AM
We have developed what I think is a great facebook application. It's called Searchgive and it lets you place a search box in your profile. You can designate the charity you wish to benefit and as people search the web from your profile, at least half of the advertising revenue goes to the charity. Please try it out: http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2372212405. I hope you like it.
Posted by: Stas | July 17, 2007 10:57 AM
@Vijay #9: Ask, and ye shall receive: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/top_10_facebook_apps_play.php
;)
Posted by: Josh Catone | July 17, 2007 11:36 AM
Hi,
Nice post - what do you think is the key success factor amongst these? You seem to like when they blend in the facebook interface?
I think that many of the applications that I like are quite small, blend in nicely and are non-intrusive.
-Linus
Posted by: Linus Kendall | July 18, 2007 3:14 AM
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2363594100
Posted by: Dave | July 18, 2007 2:02 PM
Sorry for above, i don't why that happeneed...
it was meant to say...
Great little app if you need find someone with a particular skill or knowledge of something...You can find it here http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2363594100
Posted by: Dave | July 18, 2007 2:04 PM
Thanks for the list, I'll give it a look. I wonder if it is possible to "install" all 1800 apps at once? Can a Facebook app do anything malicious to your pc or profile?
Posted by: Robert | July 22, 2007 4:51 PM
I read about this MediaFire app today and although I've only used it a little bit so-far it looks really cool.
You can upload and share an unlimited number of files and manage them in folders that you can place on your profile. Very consistant with Facebook too.
Check it out:
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?api_key=41c3b91b8f5d6b53417e02a1985ac8e2
Posted by: Alex | July 25, 2007 1:58 AM
Very interesting how its expanded since opening up to mash-ups within the Facebook environment.
Posted by: Brian | July 31, 2007 7:05 AM
I've recently developed a next-generation Todo List application. Have a look and let me know what you think:
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=3847181543
I'm eager to hear comments and feedback!
Posted by: Jason Hanley | August 1, 2007 1:55 PM
This is a very simple app that imports your LinkedIn resume and recommendations: apps.facebook.com/my-resume
If Facebook is to be a serious contender for business networking, a resume/recommendations app is needed (ie LinkedIn on Facebook)
Posted by: joe | August 1, 2007 1:59 PM
Another application I think that's worth mentioning is productpulse, which lets you rate your favorite brands, movies, bands, or even TV shows in categories like love it/hate it/want it/need info. You can take the "pulse" of your friends by checking out what products they're using and get reccomendations and original reviews from the whole productpulse userbase, and daily quizzes test if certain brands--maybe a certain dell model or chanel fragrance--raises your "pulse". In a way, its like a hotlist, wishlist, and consumer review all bundled into a continuous network that allows you to be the savviest shopper possible.
Posted by: Raymond | August 10, 2007 12:18 AM
Hi!
Now facebook week is over, but I'd like to give you a tip about the application we've just launched at Rebtel.
Basically it's a tool that allows you to create local numbers for any international number, so you can create a local number (in the US that would be a US number) for anyone of your friends on facebook.
I would love to hear some feedback on it and how you've found it useful.
The name of the app is "Reb me" and it's located on http://apps.facebook.com/myrebtel/
Thanks,
Linus
Posted by: Linus Kendall | August 11, 2007 12:51 AM
Guess I will throw in my 2 cents: Instead of drawing a haphazard sketch on the back of a McDonald's napkin, why not make your own map online, and send it to your new buddies to let them know of your events or location?
Share your location with others. Create a map for your event,party or just let people know where you live.
http://apps.facebook.com/useamap/
Posted by: vinny glennon | August 17, 2007 5:11 AM