Microsoft Outlook Integrates More Social Networks
February 18th, 2010
Microsoft is transforming Outlook from an e-mail client, or messaging platform, to a social networking hub with the addition of social connectors. The product, called Outlook Social Connector, has been available in the Office 2010 beta for some time now and now expands the service to 2003 and 2007 Office versions.
In a Tuesday blog post, Microsoft said the LinkedIn partnership, which was the first add-on for Outlook Social Connector, lets users access their LinkedIn accounts and view contacts’ profiles alongside their e-mails. Additionally, contact and network information is all synced to users’ inboxes. Developers can build connections to third party social networking feeds using the Outlook Social Connector SDK.
Integrating social networking together with scheduling and email application has hit the headlines lately with Google’s botched rollout of Buzz. While Microsoft is aiming its Outlook social connector at businesses, it should be acutely aware that privacy will have the potential to make or break its rollout of this feature. The difference comes down to sharing content, which Buzz originally enthusiastically buttressed, but was then virtually maimed as privacy concerns were made due to how much information about the user is revealed.
This is not the first time that Microsoft has integrated social networking to the email client. Outlook Express, with Usenet support, is still one of the most popular newsgroup newsreaders to date.
In the Outlook Social Connector case, Microsoft has some incumbent advantage because millions of people use Outlook for many uses, including access USENET newsgroups. The Outlook Social Connector will let them read status updates in software they’re already accustomed to using, often continuously throughout the day. Facebook and MySpace plug-ins to Outlook Social Connector can be expected by the time Office 2010 hits the shelves. Office 2010 is currently in beta and Microsoft plans to release it to manufacturing by June.
It’s not yet clear whether or not Social Connector will work for people who are tied to a network that has social networking sites blocked. Microsoft said connectors for Facebook and MySpace will be available in the first half of 2010. Users of Office 2003, 2007, and beta versions of 2010 can download the updated software as of today.
Microsoft is transforming Outlook from an e-mail client, or messaging platform, to a social networking hub with the addition of social connectors. The product, called Outlook Social Connector, has been available in the Office 2010 beta for some time now and now expands the service to 2003 and 2007 Office versions.
In a Tuesday blog post, Microsoft said the LinkedIn partnership, which was the first add-on for Outlook Social Connector, lets users access their LinkedIn accounts and view contacts’ profiles alongside their e-mails. Additionally, contact and network information is all synced to users’ inboxes. Developers can build connections to third party social networking feeds using the Outlook Social Connector SDK.
Integrating social networking together with scheduling and email application has hit the headlines lately with Google’s botched rollout of Buzz. While Microsoft is aiming its Outlook social connector at businesses, it should be acutely aware that privacy will have the potential to make or break its rollout of this feature. The difference comes down to sharing content, which Buzz originally enthusiastically buttressed, but was then virtually maimed as privacy concerns were made due to how much information about the user is revealed.
This is not the first time that Microsoft has integrated social networking to the email client. Outlook Express, with Usenet support, is still one of the most popular newsgroup newsreaders to date.
In the Outlook Social Connector case, Microsoft has some incumbent advantage because millions of people use Outlook for many uses, including access USENET newsgroups. The Outlook Social Connector will let them read status updates in software they’re already accustomed to using, often continuously throughout the day. Facebook and MySpace plug-ins to Outlook Social Connector can be expected by the time Office 2010 hits the shelves. Office 2010 is currently in beta and Microsoft plans to release it to manufacturing by June.
It’s not yet clear whether or not Social Connector will work for people who are tied to a network that has social networking sites blocked. Microsoft said connectors for Facebook and MySpace will be available in the first half of 2010. Users of Office 2003, 2007, and beta versions of 2010 can download the updated software as of today.
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