You can usse your steam overlay during Mass Effect 3 and show your online steam freinds that you are currently playing Mass Effect 3. Go to your steam games library, click add a game, then add a non steam game and select Mass Effect 3 from the list.

IMPORTANT. when you launch ME:3, you must quit Origin first. If Origin is still running when you launch Mass effect: 3 then the steam overlay will not work and it will say that you are just "Online." However, if you right click on Origin and click exit, then when you launch me:3 Origin will restart (you will have to re-log on to Origin if you dont have it set to remember your password) and Mass Effect:3 will launch. You will then be able to use both the Steam overlay and the Origin Overlay. That means ppl in this group will be able to quickly and conveiniently add each other as Origin friends if they choose to.

Also, thumbs down to EA and Origin for being a total pain in the butt.

While Me3 isnt available on steam, it doesnt mean that people who are on steam and who do play Me3 cant come together here to discuss Me3 and organise private games for lag free co op. Of course, you will have to friend each other in origin and not steam to invite each other to private games..