Social networks such as Facebook can help you get in touch with people. And they can help you share content, such as Web links, videos, and photos, with people. . But most social networks are not great places to store and share documents and similar files. Unless you have Box.net's OpenBox Services for Facebook, that is. This free app turns Facebook into something of a virtual thumb drive--one that's easy to share with friends and even contacts on another social nettwork.

Box.net's Facebook app is called simply "Files." To add it, you simply click on its link and then grant it permission to access your social network account.

Using the app requires that you sign up for a free Box.net account (a link to do so is provided from within the app), which comes with 5GB of online storage and limits sharing to files less than 25MB in size. If you want more space and options, you can purchase more storage or upgrade to Box.net's $15-per-month Business plan.

Once you're signed up, you're up and running on Facebook's Box.net Files. It features a, neat-and-clean layout, and it allows you to easily upload files or create folders. You can share single documents or entire folders with your social network contacts--and if you're signed up for Box.net's free LinkedIn app as well, you can share across social networks, too, uniting the most popular and the most reliable one. You also can opt to share just a Web link to a file, and can share via e-mail, too.

If you already have a Box.net account, you'll see your stored files and folders appear on Facebook. This automatic synchronization is one of the nicest features of this cloud-based service. All files that you add to your Facebook Files account automatically appear in your Box.net account (that you access via the service's main site)--and if you use both applications, in your LinkedIn account, too. This makes it a cinch to make sure you always have the files you need.

Box.net's Facebook app is free and nicely-designed, and it brings Box.net's handy online storage features to you at a site you probably already visit. The 30 seconds it takes to get the service up and running is time well spent.

Note: This link takes you to the vendor's site, where you can use this Web-based software.

--Liane Cassavoy