Microsoft ties up with LinkedIn

Microsoft has released a new tool which will embed social networking service LinkedIn within Microsoft's Outlook email tool.

The new product will be dubbed the 'LinkedIn Connector' and will allow users to access LinkedIn features while viewing and managing email messages. The new service will be offered as part of the free Outlook Social Connector component for Office 2003, 2007 and the Office 2010 beta.

Among the features of the LinkedIn Connector will be the ability to view information from connections within email messages. Additionally, the new component will allow users to add LinkedIn contacts from Outlook and email connections through the auto-complete feature.

Through the partnership with LinkedIn, Microsoft is hoping to boost Outlook's reach in the social networking sector, while LinkedIn is looking to the deal as a way to better connect with enterprise users.

"At LinkedIn, we believe every professional is more productive when their professional network is close at hand and available wherever they spend their professional time," said LinkedIn product management director Eliot Shmukler in a blog posting.

"We hope that this functionality starts bringing some of the benefits of LinkedIn to where you spend a majority of your professional time, your Microsoft Outlook inbox."