LinkedIn takes a leaf out of Facebook

Professional social networking site LinkedIn is to open up its network and let third parties build applications for use within its community.

But unlike Facebook, LinkedIn's Intelligent Application Platform will also allow companies to add LinkedIn features to their own websites.

Agenda Setters 2007

Find out who made this year's Agenda Setters list of the top technology movers and shakers.

If you disagree with our list then on each of the 50 individual biographies you'll find voting buttons to allow you to rank the personality in questions as well as in depth analysis and a list of long-running achievers.

The first organisation confirmed to be developing an app is the magazine BusinessWeek, which will integrate LinkedIn onto its news website, allowing people to find out more about individuals or companies mentioned in articles.

LinkedIn announced it was developing an application programming interface and platform strategy through its Open Social programme back in June.

Liz O'Donnell, international director of LinkedIn, told silicon.com: "What's different about this, if you compare it to Facebook, is the BusinessWeek example in which people can basically take their LinkedIn network off the LinkedIn website. As you're doing things you do in your daily professional life, such as reading news, you'll be able to take the value of the LinkedIn network with you on that site."

LinkedIn said a number of other companies across a broad range of industry sectors have also expressed an interest in developing their own apps and more partners are expected to be announced soon.

On the official LinkedIn blog, Lucian Beebe, director of product management, explained the platform will provide developers with a huge and receptive audience for business-focused applications.

LinkedIn now has 17 million members and is gaining an additional one million new members per month.