LinkedIn has always been the preeminent tool for serious business networking, but the problem is it never had any actual networking tools. Sure, you could collect folks in your network and you could post an online profile that acts as a permanent online resume. The group's functions offer a form of interaction, but nothing in the realm of social networking in a pure sense of communicating directly with your peers. That's why the new set of tools [1] introduced this morning is so exciting. LinkedIn now provides a set of tools for directly collaborating with the members of your network.

Huddle Workspaces [2] looks particularly interesting because it enables you to build online, secure, private workspaces where you can work with members of your network. This could allow users to set up LinkedIn networks or groups of fellow employees, then use Huddle to share and collaborate on project. Another tool, Box.net Files [3] lets users store and share files online.

LinkedIn appears to have built the connections to these tools using Google OpenSocial [4] technology. It still remains to be seen how well these tools will work in the real world, but LinkedIn has taken its service to another level by offering them. The implications are certainly exciting for business users who want to find better ways to access and communicate with members of their LinkedIn networks.

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Promoting your career in cyberspace [5]
Business networking takes off [6]