Coming Soon: Your Professional Network within Microsoft Outlook
Today, Microsoft announces an exciting new addition to the upcoming Microsoft Office 2010 – the Outlook Social Connector. The Outlook Social Connector is designed to seamlessly bring communications history as well as business and social networking feeds into your Outlook experience.
LinkedIn will be the first networking site to support the Outlook Social Connector. The LinkedIn functionality will be available in early 2010. Our big belief is that you can be much more effective if you have your professional network close at hand, and you can leverage your online identity in the work you do on a daily basis. The Outlook Social Connector will bring your LinkedIn Professional Network to where you work – right within your e-mail inbox.
Here are three key benefits you get from this integration:
1. Keep up with LinkedIn connections right from your e-mail inbox
One of the great things about LinkedIn is being able to learn what your professional connections are working on and thinking about. Just glance at the Network Updates on your LinkedIn homepage and you’ll be able to learn what articles & books your connections are reading, what conferences they are attending, and what questions they are asking and answering on LinkedIn. Many use this information to keep current with their industry and profession, as well as to learn new things and expand their horizons.
The Outlooks Social Connector makes this even easier – by automatically showing the latest activity (i.e. Network Updates) from any LinkedIn connection that sends you an e-mail. So now you can get the latest information from your LinkedIn network even without having to leave your inbox.
What’s more, for any connection with a public LinkedIn profile photo, you’ll even get to see their picture as you communicate.
2. E-mail your LinkedIn connections directly from Outlook
Know that perfect LinkedIn connection to help you with a business task or question but don’t remember their current email address? No longer do you have to go to the LinkedIn website to find their contact information before sending them a message, as your LinkedIn network is now available right within your inbox. Just start typing the name of a LinkedIn connection in the “To:” field of an Outlook message and the connections’ e-mail address from LinkedIn will automatically appear as if they are an existing Outlook contact. In fact, the Outlook Social Connector will create an Outlook Contacts folder for all of your LinkedIn connections and bring down their contact information, professional details, and picture from LinkedIn into Outlook.
3. Keep building your professional network from Outlook
Working with someone new but haven’t had a chance to connect with them on LinkedIn? By bringing professional networking to where you work, the Outlook Social Connector again makes it easy. Just click a button next to any e-mail you receive and instantly send an invitation to connect to the e-mail’s sender. It’s that easy.
We hope that these functions start bringing some of the key elements of your LinkedIn professional network to where you work – your Outlook e-mail inbox, sometime early next year. But these are certainly just the first steps. Let us know what else you’d like to see by leaving a comment below.
Tags: linkedin-microsoft, linkedin-microsoft-outlook, microsoft-outlook-professional-networks
trackback
http://blog.linkedin.com/2009/11/18/linkedin-microsoft-outlook-connector/trackback/
[Update:Screen Shots] Microsoft To Integrate Outlook With Social Networks | I'm Just Being Manan November 18th, 2009
[...] LinkedIn is the first networking site to implement this and they’ve talked about it on their blog. Related Posts: Get @replies From Twitter SMSed [...]
Matt Brezina November 18th, 2009
Hey Elliot – I thought it would be good also mention LinkedIn’s partnership with our Outlook plugin Xobni. Users can get LinkedIn in Outlook right now by downloading xobni for free at http://www.xobni.com
Our users are loving the integration with LinkedIn and we’ve worked to perfect it over the past year of LinkedIn and Xobni’s partnership.
Matt Brezina
Founder, Xobni
jaykul November 18th, 2009
You’re counting your chickens before they’ve hatched.
You won’t be the first until you release it. There’s plenty of time for someone to jump ahead of you if you wait until “early 2010″ to release :(
Erik November 18th, 2009
So how does one get their hands on the provider install, my Outlook 2010 is looking naked without Xobni… and this would REALLY help redress it :)
Bueller…. Beta…. Bueller….
Jim Greene November 18th, 2009
Nice work – these features alone will save me 30 minutes a day. Thanks a lot!
btw, you need a new, non-tilted profile picture
Dawn Pigoni November 18th, 2009
I see this becoming a very valuable tool for Microsoft.
Mario Sundar November 18th, 2009
@Erik,
As mentioned in the post, stay tuned for an update in early 2010. Thanks for the comments, everybody!
LinkedIn, Microsoft Outlook To Forge Ties - News: Everything-e November 18th, 2009
[...] see in a moment, the Outlook Social Connector is an accurately named offering. A post on the LinkedIn Blog explained that, with it, a user will be able to "[k]eep up with LinkedIn connections right [...]
@damienrobinson November 18th, 2009
Right now it’s only available for Sharepoint users. I’ve tested it today and it does look interesting. I can’t wait to see how it pans out and which social networks jump on board.
Soon, All of your Linked-In Contacts will get your Viruses, too | _mindMeld November 18th, 2009
[...] The LinkedIn Blog » Blog Archive Coming Soon: Your Professional Network within Microsoft Outlook « [...]
Andrew Risner November 18th, 2009
Can’t wait for this exiting new development. Will it only function on Word 2010?
blog | You Asked For It Blog November 18th, 2009
[...] The LinkedIn blog » blog Archive Coming Soon: Your Professional . The corporate blog of LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking site. [...]
Business-Netzwerke setzen auf Reichweiten-Deals | aquarius: Consulting für digitale Medien und Realisierung November 19th, 2009
[...] ermöglicht die Partnerschaft mit Microsoft dem Business-Netzwerk LinkedIn die Integration in das neue Outlook 2010. Der sog. Social Connector ermöglicht es den Nutzern, [...]
senderok November 19th, 2009
It would be the kiss of death for a social network to try to go it alone without such connectivity to at least one major Email client. We just hope LinkedIn doesn’t go exclusive with just xobni and Microsoft.
senderok November 19th, 2009
SenderOK puts photo business cards in the Email header pane and works with webmail clients like Gmail, Yahoo and Live as well as Outlook 2003/7 (like xobni).
Google and Microsoft have announced this type of functionality for their clients only. xobni will have Outlook 2003/7 + Blackberry. Territories are being staked out.
Other client manufacturers will be asking LinkedIn for the same feed.
Outlook Social Connector – új szolgáltatás az Outlookban! - Fülöp Dávid szakmai blogja - devPortal November 19th, 2009
[...] Itt találjátok a LinkedIn bejelentését – egy picit bővebb magyarázattal – itt pedig az Office csapat leírását a Social Connectorról. [...]
links for 2009-11-19 | Don't mind Rick November 19th, 2009
[...] Coming Soon: Your Professional Network within Microsoft Outlook (tags: outlook office) [...]
Christophe Couallier November 19th, 2009
Will the same be available from other email applications, such as Thunderbird for example?
Microsoft Outlook Social Connector to Compete with GoogleWave? What Will Competitors Do? « SenderOK Email Plug-in – Header Pane Photo Biz Cards November 19th, 2009
[...] Compete with GoogleWave? What Will Competitors Do? With the breaking news announcement by LinkedIn and Microsoft of the new Outlook Social Connector (OSC) functionality for Office 2010, few bloggers [...]
LinkedIn, Microsoft Outlook To Forge Ties | The Free Site Hosting | Reviews & Top Hosts November 19th, 2009
[...] see in a moment, the Outlook Social Connector is an accurately named offering. A post on the LinkedIn Blog explained that, with it, a user will be able to "[k]eep up with LinkedIn connections right [...]
Reynout November 19th, 2009
Already available for Lotus Notes :-D
Plugin model lets you integrate with anything you like.
http://www.linkedin.com/lotus
Social Media Integration Coming to Microsoft Outlook | Broadband Evolved November 19th, 2009
[...] Connectors will be used to integrate with LinkedIn. You can read more about how this will work here, but in essence it will put LinkedIn details at your fingertips whenever you are looking at email [...]
BizWorks360: 360 Strategies and Solutions to Build Your Business | BizWorks360 November 19th, 2009
[...] Coming Soon: Your Professional Network within Microsoft Outlook [...]
LinkedIn lands in your Microsoft Outlook inbox | qface & sowmo sky November 19th, 2009
[...] partnered with Microsoft to launch the Outlook Social Connector, which will deliver LinkedIn updates directly to your inbox and give you better social context when [...]
Outlook Social Connector: tu red social ¿corporativa? « RSS2Blogs November 19th, 2009
[...] dejando de prestarles atención, seguirlos en las redes sociales donde están presentes (como ya hace LinkedIn o Windows Live) y hasta compartir documentos con [...]
olegych76 November 19th, 2009
As to us – we own a speech recognition engine and are almost ready to issue a product that will add voice navigation to LinkedIn. Basically, without any change to the portal User will be able to navigate through their connections and so on with own voice.
LinkedIn, Microsoft Outlook To Forge Ties | 101TECHREVIEW.co.cc November 19th, 2009
[...] see in a moment, the Outlook Social Connector is an accurately named offering. A post on the LinkedIn Blog explained that, with it, a user will be able to "[k]eep up with LinkedIn connections right [...]
An Integrated Social Address Book November 19th, 2009
[...] will incorporate more social-ness in Outlook, first with LinkedIn (TechCrunch post). Here is the news from LinkedIn and the announcement from the Microsoft Outlook team. Outlook will integrate LinkedIn profiles [...]
» LinkedIn, Microsoft Outlook To Forge Ties November 19th, 2009
[...] see in a moment, the Outlook Social Connector is an accurately named offering. A post on the LinkedIn Blog explained that, with it, a user will be able to “[k]eep up with LinkedIn connections right [...]
Another Reason Email is NOT Dead: Email and Social Media Integration with Xobni : The Get Smart Blog November 19th, 2009
[...] 2006, but it is thanks to a LinkedIn blog post (actually it was a comment on this post) about LinkedIn’s upcoming integration into Outlook (can’t wait for this) that I stumbled onto this ridiculously cool [...]
Microsoft Social Connector en Linkedin November 20th, 2009
[...] de Social Connector benut Outlook meer online mogelijkheden! Linkedin is het eerste sociale netwerk die bij Outlook wordt aangesloten. Dus wanneer je outlook op je werk [...]
Developer information about the Outlook Social Connector | HowTo-Outlook November 20th, 2009
[...] contact and related content information from Windows Live Messenger and SkyDrive. LinkedIn is also working on a provider for the Outlook Social [...]
Bill Dyszel November 20th, 2009
Hi, Elliott-
I’d like to mention this in the next edition of Microsoft Outlook for Dummies. Can you tell me who to contact at LinkedIn for more information? Thanks,
Bill Dyszel
Author, Microsoft Outlook for Dummies
Mario Sundar November 22nd, 2009
@Bill,
I’ve fwded your request to Elliot. One of us will be contacting you shortly. Thanks!
Microsoft en Linkedin partneren | RecTec November 24th, 2009
[...] meeste professionals direct mee werken, in dit geval Outlook, zoals Elliot Shmukler aangeeft op de Linkedin Blog. Linkedin wordt daarmee de eerste Social partij die aanhaakt bij de nieuwe connector van [...]
Patrick OMalley November 25th, 2009
I’m really confused, and I know this stuff WELL.
The LinkedIn Outlook toolbar and LinkedIn Browser toolbar currently exist, and are supposed to do some of what you advertise above. Of course, they just don’t work. I’ve tried them on multiple machines with multiple versions of Windows, and multiple friends of mine and blogoshpere friends of mine have also had cosntant problems with it.
Where does it work? Is it only on Macs? You should let us know, so we don’t waste time with buggy code. Label it “beta” if you have to, but don’t have it at the bottom of my LinkedIn home page for years, like you do now, and then tell us that in 2010 you’ll have something that works.
Marc K November 25th, 2009
What about Thunderbird?
Also, I noticed that there is no way to export events. While this feature may be great with Outlook, what about Google Web Apps? All connection within LinkedIn only connects to Gmail; while professionals would be using Google Web Apps.
Are there any plans to either allow exporting of events through iCal links?
Or add to Google Calendar?
Or even just connect to Google Web Apps at all? This includes importing of contacts.
Julian Knight November 27th, 2009
I’m with Marc on this. It is great to see an Outlook connection but it yet again ties people in to MS technologies and proprietary API’s.
Some move towards open standards would be great here and would open lots of opportunities for LI in the future. The growth of non-PC based systems is explosive at present, whether Mac based (or Linux, etc.), Netbooks, Mobile Phones and, of course, web-based (or cloud based as many people now seem to prefer, it being the latest buzz word).
What hope does LI and similar organisations have to stay current in these emerging markets unless people work together to adopt open standards?
Dirk Frey November 30th, 2009
@Julian- Check out our announcement about open APIs in this blog article…
Microsoft and LinkedIn join forces for new addin | Outlook Utilities December 1st, 2009
[...] Read entire release [...]
Gary December 1st, 2009
Why should I not be concerned with security here? I intentionally use yahoo email for outside and more risky communication and keep outlook for internal, professional and known contacts only… am I missing something here?
Julian Knight December 1st, 2009
Cheers Dirk and well done. I’ve seen the announcement and its a good move. Keep it coming!
Microsoft and LinkedIn join forces for new addin | TwitTrix December 1st, 2009
[...] Read entire release [...]
Vanaf vandaag kunnen ontwikkelaars LinkedIn integreren in applicaties en websites. « December 2nd, 2009
[...] Partnerships with companies like IBM, Blackberry (Research in Motion), and most recently Microsoft, have given us time to invest in both functionality and scalability of the [...]
Dirk Frey December 2nd, 2009
@Patrick – I use mine and have had no problems since an update that occurred a few months ago. Try installing and reinstalling the latest version available on the site. After doing so if you are still having problems contact customer service by clicking on the link at the bottom of the homepage. We have trained reps that can work with you to trouble shoot your specific issues.
The Outlook Toolbar system requirements are the following: Microsoft Windows XP/Vista, Microsoft Outlook XP (2002)/2003/2007.
The browser toolbars system requirements are vary by the browser you are using:
* Firefox Toolbar 3.1.2 (PC or Mac): Microsoft Windows XP/Vista; Mac OS X 10.2 or later. Firefox versions 2.0 and 3.0.
* Internet Explorer Toolbar 3.0.3.1100 (PC only): Microsoft Windows 2000/XP. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and 7.0
The LinkedIn Blog » Blog Archive LinkedIn Developer Meetup at Le Web 09 on Dec 9 « December 4th, 2009
[...] allow you to bring LinkedIn to your desktop. Similar integrations announced earlier this month with Microsoft Outlook 2010, Blackberry, etc. will continue to take your LinkedIn contacts to all areas of your professional [...]
Good Morning! It’s a New Day! « Marketing Nirvana December 7th, 2009
[...] users’ experience, share some interesting news on upcoming LinkedIn goodness coming soon to Microsoft Outlook as well as to the Blackberry, forays into India and Australia, testing the site’s new design, [...]
Outlook 2010 – Novidades interessantes | TI Brasil December 9th, 2009
[...] possuimos o plugin para o Sharepoint, em breve estará integrado a outras redes sociais, como o LinkedIn Em breve estarei aqui com mais novidades a respeito do Outlook e de outros aplicativos. Até [...]
Microsoft® Office 2010 Beta – Outlook (Part 2) « Raymond's Workspace December 9th, 2009
[...] Currently, only SharePoint has provided the connection and service to this tool, but more will come. And LinkedIn has confirmed integration with Outlook Social Connector through this post. [...]
5 Ways to get more from LinkedIn in 2010 « The Project Solvers' Chat Room December 15th, 2009
[...] skyrocketed. LinkedIn grew to more than 53 million members and announced partnerships with IBM, Microsoft and Twitter. If you’re on the hunt for a new job—or just looking to ramp up your activity [...]
“5 Ways to Get More from LinkedIn in 2010″ « Social Media Delivered December 17th, 2009
[...] skyrocketed. LinkedIn grew to more than 53 million members and announced partnerships with IBM, Microsoft and Twitter. If you’re on the hunt for a new job—or just looking to ramp up your activity [...]
Gareth James January 2nd, 2010
Yep I think this would work nicely.
tripp3235 January 4th, 2010
Any updates of when the connector will be available?
Bill Tilley January 5th, 2010
Does the http://www.xobni.com plugin work with Outlook 2010 Beta?
5 Tips to Profit from LinkedIn in 2012 | News of the World January 5th, 2010
[...] skyrocketed. LinkedIn grew to more than 53 million members and announced partnerships with IBM , Microsoft and Twitter . If you’re on the hunt for a new job — or just looking to ramp up your [...]
From Twitter to CRM … « Ron De Giusti January 10th, 2010
[...] Right away I found the following article on the LinkedIn blog on how Outlook 2010 will have an add-in for LinkedIn contacts: http://blog.linkedin.com/2009/11/18/linkedin-microsoft-outlook-connector/ [...]
Srilanka Forum January 21st, 2010
Hi,
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the great work Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Jenni.
Microsoft en Linkedin partneren « Today is my favorite day! January 21st, 2010
[...] meeste professionals direct mee werken, in dit geval Outlook, zoals Elliot Shmukler aangeeft op de Linkedin Blog. Linkedin wordt daarmee de eerste Social partij die aanhaakt bij de nieuwe connector van [...]
LinkedIn & Microsoft: A Socially Connected Professional Network January 23rd, 2010
[...] to LinkedIn. LinkedIn has been making every attempt to increase user experience and involvement. Eliott Smukler discussed the benefits of this integration (see complete benefits) on the LinkedIn [...]
LinkedIn keeps getting better « Mr LinkedIn's Blog February 1st, 2010
[...] hidden away under ‘tools’ at the bottom of the page is a mystery to me!) and the Outlook integration would appear to take this a step further. As a Blackberry user I am also excited by the propspect [...]
Dave Seal February 3rd, 2010
You might want to also try RedCritter. It has social Apps and a lot more. Silverlight developers can even create their own Apps that run inside Outlook. You can download it for free at http://www.redcritter.com
http://www.redcritter.com