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 In bid to make it big in the social network world, Vancouver-based HootSuite has announced a move to include real time online chat to its dashboard. The move is quite timely with the site having amassed a good deal of trust in a number of private investors like high-profile social networkers including White House and Fortune 100 companies.

The additional service launched on beta on 26 September for trials to the almost five million HootSuite users worldwide. The chat functionality allows users to collaborate with multiple people in real time and chat with anyone they want, either within the company or outside.

In addition to putting colleagues and friends at the fingertips, the new conversation solutions allow companies’ teams and worker groups to create their own online chat networks on the HootSuite dashboard giving an effective and limitless channel through which information can be disseminated and ideas exchange from the comfort of a desk, either in the office or at home. This discards the need to send an e-mail each time something comes up at the office.

The CEO of HootSuite, Ryan Holmes, said, “One of the things we’re seeing as a trend is a need for organizations to work together more effectively. . . Conversations are a tool to help people collaborate more effectively and we’re excited about it.”

The integration of the active chat into the platform is in a group of a series of improvements HootSuite has in place to materialize its dream to make an impact on the social network field. Before this, the company had bought the San Francisco-based Seesmic, not forgetting the decade record breaking $20 million support from Canadian venture capital firm, OMERS Ventures

HootSuite offers a freemium model that monetizes approximately 3.5 percent of its users. Though bogged with a barrage of acquisition rumors, the organization is still holding its own with Holmes showing contentment in turning away suitors. Concerning the future plans of the company in Vancouver, he says, “We are going to continue moving ahead with building up the company. We are getting close to making an announcement on space and a new office location. We are absolutely committed to building out in Vancouver. We’re well on track for that.”

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