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Here's what's first on Microsoft's LinkedIn integration to-do list

The Microsoft and LinkedIn deal officially has closed. Now the integration of the two companies products and services begins. Here's what's up first.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

Just two days after gaining European regulatory approval for its LinkedIn acquisition, Microsoft has closed the deal.

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Credit: Microsoft

On December 8, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella outlined (on LinkedIn, naturally) his list of first integration priorities now that the deal is finalized.

On the "immediate term" list:

  • Providing LinkedIn identity and network in Microsoft Outlook and the Office suite
  • Delivering LinkedIn notifications within the Windows Action Center
  • Enabling members drafting resumes in Word to update their profiles, and discover and apply to jobs on LinkedIn
  • Extending the reach of Sponsored Content across Microsoft properties
  • Providing Enterprise LinkedIn Lookup powered by Active Directory and Office 365
  • Making LinkedIn Learning (including its Lynda.com assets) available across the Office 365 and Windows ecosystem
  • Developing a business news desk across the content ecosystem and MSN.com
  • Redefining social selling through the combination of Sales Navigator and Dynamics 365

Microsoft announced its intentions to purchase LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in June 2016. Microsoft received EU regulatory approval for the deal on December 6 after making a number of concessions meant to insure that other professional social networks would not be hindered by Microsoft's LinkedIn deal.

Among the commitments Microsoft made to European regulators were promises that IT admins and users would be able decide whether to display in the user interface the LinkedIn profile and "activity information that may be integrated in the future." Microsoft also pledged that users will be able to uninstall the LinkedIn application and tile if they choose to do so, and they won't be subjected to Windows prompting them to install a LinkedIn application.

When Microsoft announced its LinkedIn purchase plans, officials focused on the synergies of the data being amassed by the two firms. Officials from both companies maintained that the LinkedIn and Microsoft graphs didn't overlap much. They also said to expect data integration between LinkedIn and Microsoft's Office 365, Dynamics CRM/ERP, and advertising products and services.

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