Comments on: Will Microsoft’s Acquisition of LinkedIn Change the WebRTC Landscape?

By: Lasse Lumiaho

Lasse Lumiaho — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:56:12 +0000

The problem with LinkedIN is that for an average person it is a directory of connections, not a tool to make more connections. As long as they hold on to the premium model, which is generating almost no revenue, for normal people when they want to look for connections, LinkedIN will keep failing. Also, using email as a primary notification channel is simply outdated.

LinkedIn should concentrate on making networking for normal people as easy as possible, and make sure businesses can use it as a recruitment channel. Anything other changes can complement the big change they need make happen.

By: Tsahi Levent-Levi

Tsahi Levent-Levi — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 12:08:51 +0000

In reply to Moshe Maeir. I hope their strategy is better than the one they had for their Nokia acquisition...

By: Moshe Maeir

Moshe Maeir — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 06:12:52 +0000

That being said. Microsoft must have. A strategy if they paid so much…

By: Michael Monroe

Michael Monroe — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 23:25:12 +0000

Good post Tsahi. as usual. Great simplified analysis. This will be a big challenge for Microsoft to get an ROI for the huge investment. I believe the integration of the platforms is critical and can change the game in Enterprise to SMB markets at both the customer and individual level. Lot of heavy lifting required BUT why not thread these together … end game = use O365, click to see the presence of an employee, friend or federated partner. Nail up a IM session, click to call, escalate to video, share docs and add others & collaborate. Ok, I got carried away… BUT at $26B, I’m not the only one dreaming 🙂

By: Tsahi Levent-Levi

Tsahi Levent-Levi — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 17:38:13 +0000

In reply to Mike Stefaniuk.

The issue isn’t in the synergy – it definitely exist.

The issue is in the capacity of both Microsoft and LinkedIn to execute in an area they are both weak at – enterprise messaging. Neither of them have the capability of Whatsapp (or even Slack) when it comes to push notifications – let alone full fledged group messaging that users will love to use…

By: Tsahi Levent-Levi

Tsahi Levent-Levi — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 17:36:27 +0000

In reply to Philipp Hancke. :-)

By: Mike Stefaniuk

Mike Stefaniuk — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 17:30:17 +0000

Platforms are the dominant business model. As you have outlined above, Microsoft is essentially an Enterprise platform. Given that, do you see a scenario where LinkedIn morphs into something like Slack, with a public component (effectively LinkedIn as is today), and a private component which could look more like Slack? As Bubley points out, you’d be hard pressed to find a more universal tool (save for telephony and email) for finding someone (from a business perspective)…..could this not offer a unique value proposition for team collaboration, especially when team members are outside the enterprise?

By: Philipp Hancke

Philipp Hancke — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 12:04:07 +0000

Thanks for explaining this in terms I can understand!