ChannelWeb Hot Topics

Is LinkedIn Out?

My LinkedIn account is finally rocking. After a few years of slowly adding 'connections' from various colleagues here and there, I suddenly have 55, and I can feel the power. Need an "In" in New Zealand? No problem. With NASA? Done. My 55 connections (people I actually know) lead directly to over 4,000 more. So what could be wrong? According to some, LinkedIn is 'over.'

Facebook, until recently a college-students-only social networking site, has made two big moves: they opened up registration to the general public, and they opened their programming APIs to allow independent developers to build applications for Facebook. It's worked. They have the traffic and buzz to compete with LinkedIn in the business networking world. The UK Times Online:

"Facebook's unpretentious atmosphere where former bosses represent themselves as cartoon characters or pixilated avatars is a refreshing change from the black-and-white-handshake-and-business-card atmosphere I grew up with [in LinkedIn]."

Tech writer David Strom:
"Facebook is easier to build networks, easier than LinkedIn to set up your own groups... and easier than LinkedIn to customize your own home page with a lot of silly applications. There is even a group for LinkedIn users."

But wait a minute. I don't think LinkedIn is quite done yet. They're launching their own developer network and tips blog to counter Facebook. And LinkedIn still works--I just re-connected with a long-lost college buddy, now in Oregon, through LinkedIn, when he appeared among the 5,500 Stony Brook grads. I haven't had any contacts, business or personal, offering Facebook connections. Have you?

Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:17 AM, July 17, 2007

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