Meta is shutting down Workplace, its corporate communications tool. According to company sources, the Facebook parent plans to announce the details of the closure later today.
In a statement, the tech giant noted that it shut down Workplace so it can "focus on building AI and metaverse technologies" that will "fundamentally reshape" how the company operates, as reported by Axios.
Meta also stated that Workplace users can switch over the next two years to Zoom's Workvivo solution, which is Meta's chosen migration partner.
This decision marks the end of Meta's 10-year quest to make Workplace a major income source.
Meta allegedly rejected bids from outside investment companies to spin off the division as a "strategic asset" rather than an income generator. Meta expanded its capabilities beyond social networking on the platform, giving authorities and stakeholders a more complete picture of the company.
Meta Workplace Shutdown: End of an Era
Workplace began as Facebook @ Work, a product of Meta's internal Facebook team. Lars Rasmussen, Google Maps co-creator and Facebook engineering chief, was in charge. This platform used third-party connectors and productivity tools to improve company communication.
Meta Workplace struggled against Slack and Microsoft Teams, according to TechCrunch. Meta's business communication platform never fully recovered from the impacts of the pandemic, which hurt its growth.
Meta's senior director of product management, Micah Collins, informed consumers of the Workplace shutdown. Users can use it until September 2025, after which they can only download or read data. The service will end in 2026.
Workplace was launched in 2016. The business platform had 7 million paying customers in 2021, per reports.
With the Workplace shutdown, Meta will now focus on AI, reflecting strategic changes. Over the past few years, Meta has cut staff and streamlined products to invest in the metaverse and AI.
A sign is posted in front of Meta headquarters on April 28, 2022 in Menlo Park, California.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Meta Quest 'Travel Mode' Now Available
In a separate development, Meta has added 'Travel Mode' to its Quest VR headset, enabling augmented and virtual reality on the go.
The function of 'Travel Mode' is to provide alternate or tailored in-flight entertainment, powered by an algorithm tailored for air travel, as previously reported by TechTimes.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed Quest 3's 'Travel Mode' on Instagram. In the video, the headgear worked without disruption during an airplane ride. The demo showed streaming, gaming, shopping, and Passthrough.
Meta Quest's "ultimate in-flight entertainment," 'Travel Mode, is now in beta, according to thetech giant's blog. A corporate algorithm that accounts for airplane movement keeps the headset's functionalities constant throughout flights.
The Quest VR headgear lets users stream, game, browse, and work over in-flight WiFi. Meta and Lufthansa provide bespoke material in the Allegris Business Class Suite.
For safety, VR headsets must be used in fixed settings. Meta also stresses that Quest 3 should not be used while driving.
