A British web developer has created an application that
can disguise the fact that workers are using Twitter at
work.
Many businesses are suspicious that Web 2.0 social networking
applications are causing employees to waste time at work.
The Spreadtweet application allows users to use a
spreadsheet-like interface to manage their tweeting without being
noticed by colleagues and bosses.
Twitter is a social
networking tool that enables users to stay in touch and share
information in real time. Users can use a maximum of 140 characters
per message or "tweet".
The site's users have grown by more than 3,000% in the last
year, according to figures from internet monitoring site
Hitwise.
Its share of UK traffic increased by about 33 times between
February 2008 and February 2009. The site is growing 25 times
faster than Facebook, which grew by 123% in the same period.
Some businesses are yet to identify a
business value of the application. However, organisations such
as
banks are using it to communicate with customers.
Stephen Beynon, managing director at ntl:Telewest Business, said
organisations should look at how they can embrace social networks,
not suppress them.
"Sites like Twitter have transformed business communications,
enabling organisations to share news, recruit employees, and engage
with customers who are praising or criticising them."
"Given that many employees are now recruited via social
networking sites, they expect to use them when they enter the
workplace. This attitude shift, combined with the nonstop tide of
innovation online, has given rise to a new generation of social
tools, many of which require extra bandwidth.
"Some organisations have avoided using social media because of
fears that it could strain corporate networks, but this is no
longer the case. The majority of larger businesses have now
invested in next generation networks to provide ample bandwidth to
support this extra relationship building activity alongside more
mission critical applications."