LinkedIn more than just network tool, introduces apps

Written on 29th October 2008                                                                                                              5 COMMENTS
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief

Now that LinkedIn has gathered 30 million members in its professional network, the Mountain View-based company wants to go beyond just connecting. Last night it introduced nine applications with which LinkedIn users can “communicate, collaborate, and share”. Reid Hoffman writes on the corporate blog:

This initial roll out features productivity applications that range from gathering information that professionals around you are generating to enhancing your abilities to collaborate and communicate more effectively. You’ll be able to work much more closely with your contacts on LinkedIn with tools such as file sharing, project management, business trips and many more.

The email sent to all users contains a good overview of the new features:

Work collaboratively with your network.

• Box on LinkedIn: Share files and collaborate with your network.
• Huddle on LinkedIn: Private workspaces to collaborate with your network on projects.

Share information and keep up to date with your network.

• Amazon on LinkedIn: Discover what your network is reading.
• TripIt on LinkedIn: See where your network is traveling.
• SixApart on LinkedIn: Stay up to date with your network’s latest blog posts.

Present yourself and your work in new ways.

Come on, the difference is so salient

It seems like LinkedIn is moving in the direction. Many blogs try to pinpoint the differences between the two networking giants. I think it’s rather simple: LinkedIn is Facebook without drunken pics and therefore better suited for professional relations.

facebook, linkedin, Reid Hoffman, social network

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New funding & more star investors for online travel service Dopplr

Written on 15th September 2008                                                                                                              10 COMMENTS
Robin Wauters, Next web enthusiast & Plugg organizer

Online network for frequent business travellers Dopplr has raised new funding from a group of angel investors in a second financing round. The undisclosed round makes the list of Dopplr backers even more impressive than it already was: Martin Varsavsky, Reid Hoffman and Joichi Ito were some of the initial seed investors, while Saul Klein from The Accelerator Group invested in both rounds.

Now you can add the following familiar names to that list: Esther Dyson, Tyler Brûlé, Thomas Glocer, Yat Siu,Aditya dev Sood, Lars Hinrichs, Joshua Schachter, Brian Behlendorf, Ami Hasan, Daniel Sachs, Joshua Cooper Ramo, Kim Weckström, and Azeem Azhar.

Dopplr helps you make the most of your trips by sharing your travel plans with people and brands you trust.

The service then highlights coincidences, for example, telling you that three people you know will be in Tokyo when you will be there too. You can use Dopplr on your PC or on the go, and links with many popular online calendars and social networks. 

Dopplr expects to use this new round of financing to expand its business globally. Currently, Dopplr’s user base is mostly in Europe and the U.S.

(Hat tip to ReadWriteWeb)

Aditya dev Sood, Ami Hasan, Azeem Azhar, Brian Behlendorf, Daniel Sachs, Dopplr, Esther Dyson, funding, Joichi Ito, Joshua Cooper Ramo, Joshua Schachter, Kim Weckström, Lars Hinrichs, Martin Varsavsky, Reid Hoffman, saul klein, The Accelerator Group, Thomas Glocer, Tyler Brûlé, Yat Siu

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