Facebook May Have IPO: What Do You Think?

The latest 800-pound gorilla in the technology world may be about to enter the room.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Facebook, which has hundreds of millions of users worldwide, plans an Initial Public Offering for the second quarter of 2012. The report says the IPO would value Facebook at $100 billion.

That would not make it the most valuable tech-oriented company, though. Apple Computers leads the world with a market cap of about $349 billion, and Microsoft still is a player, at $209 billion. Search-engine giant Google is at $190 billion.

Still, it would continue the remarkable growth of the site, which not only links people with personal and business associates but has become a popular way for businesses to advertise and political figures and groups to disseminate information. Comments and feedback also are popular.

Also, law enforcement and government agencies often use Facebook to spread emergency information.

Usage is free, and "always will be," Facebook says.

But life as a public company also is different: It means financies will be disclosed, and greater pressure from Wall Street companies and investors. For example, Google executive Eric Schmidt has a compensation package of $313,000 annually, below that of some other company executives.

Analyst pressure can have an effect on business -- just ask many companies who own newspapers and television stations in the digital age.

So now, we ask: Do you think Facebook's IPO is a good move? Take our poll, and tell us in the comments.

Compiled by Steve Burns.