LinkedIn recently launched a new app for iOS called Connected, which is designed to encourage users to more frequently reach out to others within their network.
The app resembles LinkedIn’s website, in that it has a feed highlighting news mentions, job changes, work anniversaries, and birthdays. You can also receive push notifications if you sync your contacts and calendar with the app.
In a blog post announcing the new app, David Brubacher states:
It helps you reach out to people in your network when it matters most, so you can keep your network active and warm.
Among the benefits offered by this new app, LinkedIn says if you use it well it could substantially increase views to your profile, endorsements, and messages received.
Updates from your network in the Connected app appear in the form of “cards” (like Google Now cards), which are designed for users to digest bite-sized pieces of information in a mobile-friendly format.
You can swipe through update cards, or stop to click on a person’s profile where you can see what you have in common with them, and what you should remember about them.
These cards are the singular focus the Connected app. The app is not designed to be a replacement to the already existing LinkedIn app, it’s just a supplement to it. The new app won’t let users, for instance, edit their profiles, search for jobs, or follow companies. It’s more just for checking in to see what your professional contacts are up to.
With this new app, LinkedIn is putting its social networking features front and center in order to make it a destination for users to check in to see regular updates from their network.
The app is available in English for iOS, with plans in the works for Android and international versions.
