LinkedIn invites users to develop apps
Published: 11 Dec 2007 16:58 GMT
Professional social-networking site LinkedIn is to open up its network and let third parties build applications for use within its community.
But, unlike Facebook, LinkedIn's Intelligent Application Platform will also allow companies to add LinkedIn features to their own websites.
The first organisation confirmed to be developing an application is the magazine BusinessWeek, which will integrate LinkedIn onto its news website, allowing people to find out more about individuals or companies mentioned in articles.
LinkedIn announced it was developing an application programming interface (API) and platform strategy through its Open Social programme back in June.
Read this
How to use social networks for business gain
If managed in the right way, applications like Facebook can actually improve business collaboration...
Liz O'Donnell, international director of LinkedIn, told silicon.com: "What's different about this, if you compare it to Facebook, is the BusinessWeek example in which people can basically take their LinkedIn network off the LinkedIn website. As you're doing things you do in your daily professional life, such as reading news, you'll be able to take the value of the LinkedIn network with you on that site."
LinkedIn said a number of other companies across a broad range of industry sectors have also expressed an interest in developing their own applications and more partners are expected to be announced soon.
On the official LinkedIn blog, Lucian Beebe, director of product management, explained that the platform will provide developers with a huge and receptive audience for business-focused applications.
LinkedIn now has 17 million members and is gaining an additional one million new members per month.
- Social networking: 3G's killer app?
- Half of employers ban Facebook
- Social networking driving server sales
- Think before you mail, advises IBM
- Facing the past and future at Facebook
- Unified communications come together
- Microsoft bags a stake in Facebook
- Google: Businesses can benefit from video sharing
- Facebook: A boon to business security?
- Vendorboard: Freeing yourself from inbox tyranny
- How to use social networks for business gain
- Google reveals its social side
Did you find this article useful?
0 out of 3 people found this useful
- Share this article:
