Starting today, you can plug Facebook and Windows Live right into Microsoft Outlook through the Outlook Social Connector. You can view your social network as you look through your email to stay connected with your friends, family, and colleagues. Here are the key links of what Outlook users can do starting today:
1. Outlook 2003 and 2007 users can download the latest version of the Outlook Social Connector from the Microsoft Download Center.
2. Outlook 2010 users can get the Outlook Social Connector update through Microsoft Update.
3. Get the Facebook provider download for the Outlook Social Connector from the Microsoft Download Center.
4. Get the Windows Live Messenger provider download for the Outlook Social Connector from the Microsoft Download Center.
5. Stay tuned to the Outlook team blog for updates: http://blogs.msdn.com/outlook.
6. See what other social networks are available through the Outlook Social Connector provider page.
7. Watch a short video on the changes made today to the Outlook Social Connector.
According to the Nielsen ratings, 67 percent of the global online population now goes online to visit social networks and blogs to stay connected, make decisions, and get things done. Today's news demonstrates our commitment to evolving Office to support the way you get things done. The Outlook Social Connector doesn't add another social network into the mix; rather it offers busy people the convenience of accessing them in Outlook.
LinkedIn and MySpace for the Outlook Social Connector became available in Outlook last winter, and today we added Facebook and Windows Live. Now you'll be able to view status updates and photos right next to an email. Also, you will be able to grow your social and professional network directly within Outlook by simply adding "Friends" to Facebook and Windows Live directly from the Outlook People Pane.
To give more Outlook users the ability to connect their Inbox with their social networks, we have also updated Outlook Social Connector to work with Outlook 2003 and 2007.
We've also released a new version of the Outlook Social Connector (v1.1). This update gives you the ability to receive real-time updates in the "People Pane" within Outlook.
We built the Outlook Social Connector with privacy and security in mind. The information people share is a personal choice, so it's up to you to determine what you share, and with whom.
Working closely with key partners including Facebook, our goal is to help you stay in touch with the people you care about, and simplify your daily routine.
If you haven't tried it yet, we encourage you to give the Outlook Social Connector a spin and share with us your thoughts and ideas.
-- Paco Contreras Herrera, Group Product Manager, Microsoft Office
I have windows 7 64 bit, running office 201 64bit but no matter how many times i try to install the social connector it doesnt work? no people pane appearing.... any ideas?
Installed the Facebook Connector and works great! Would be nice if the LinkedIn Connector could be updated for Office 2010 64-bit though, as this would be much more useful to me at work...
When I try to setup the Facebook 64bit connector, I get an error message: "Invalid user name or password". The same username and password works fine on Facebook's website. Any ideas? Seems like a bug.
Will there be a Mac version for Office 2011?
@Rob, the userid, password being requested is most likely the one for the local machine. It probably requires an administrator equivalent account.
seems like a useless feature, i prefer to view Facebook in IE or Chrome
i installed the social connector and it doesnt work? no people pane appearing
The windows live connecter works. I'm running the 32bit FB connector on Outlook 2010 32bit running on Windows 7 64bit and I see FB activity associated with my contacts, but its not building a contact list for FB as it does for other connectors.
Side note, the LinkedIn connector problem with complex-password (escape sequence problem resulting in invalid username/password message) remains unresolved; I have to use a simplified password on linkedin still to get that connector to authenticate.
My contact pictures in Outlook are not updating from the facebook/linked in photos. Should they?
For me this addon is useless because not everyone is using the same e-mail on Facebook and on Outlook and the Social Connector doesn't connect everyone. Please make a manual contact assignment possible!
I have Outlook 2007 (running on 2008), the latest connector / facebook addon installed. All this running as a MSTSC APP. Whenever I click an email I get the IE dialogue box : Content within this application coming from the website listed below is being blocked by Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration : about:internet. I have added about:internet / *.facebook.com but I keep getting the above message. Anyone know a way around this?
I think there is a problem with the security - i.e. I can see someone pics on FB via Outlook connector, but I can't see them in raw-Facebook (i.e. via IE). Perhaps a 'backdoor' has been opened? Suggest MS dev team have a quick look at this - thanks.
@Rob, I have the same problem. Tried both email and account name. Changed password. No effect, it still does not allow me to log in.
It won't work for me either... The Facebook provider constantly tells me that my user name or pasword is invalid eventhough it's not. What a bummer!
Same issue as mentioned by others. My Facebook username and password are not being accepted.