XING provides new communication options for business networking

• New comment and filter functions for business users
• New Android and mobile web apps launched

Hamburg, March 1, 2011 – From tomorrow, XING is making it even easier and quicker for its more than 10 million members to communicate with their contacts, find out and let other people know about activities, tips and news, and share platform-related content with their network. In doing so, XING is providing business users with communication options that have proven popular in private online use.

“The potential of social media within a professional environment has by no means been exhausted. We’re now providing XING users, who are already far more active than the users of any other business network in the world, with a number of additional direct communication tools. This will help to intensify business networking and make it even more tangible than before”, explained Stefan Gross-Selbeck, CEO at XING AG.

“What’s new in your network” goes interactive
The main focus of the new developments is the “What’s new in your network” function. Here XING members can comment on status updates, event participations, group forum posts, news and other activity they or their contacts have posted. In addition, members can now click on the “like” button to show that they like an entry or find it interesting. Not only that, they can also share an entry with their own network that can then be discussed. News about events, groups, and profile updates appear in a clearly structured preview. Members can then follow their contacts’ opinions, ideas and comments, and use joint discussions as a way of meeting and connecting with other experts. The user’s homepage also presents a summary of the topics currently under discussion in their own network or their contacts’ networks. This provides members with an enhanced and in-depth overview of industry trends and information. Thanks to a new filter this information can be presented in a list sorted by the categories jobs, groups, events, and status updates. By providing business users with modern Web 2.0 communication tools, XING enables users to communicate more directly and more intensively with one another. XING takes the approach that users retain full control over their own data, which is why initiators of status updates can choose who can see their messages and follow any subsequent discussion, i.e. only their own network or all XING members.  

The new “Activity” tab in a person’s profile is also a new addition that provides members with a list of their own activity on the platform presented as a summary. In addition, it gives members an opportunity to present themselves, initiate discussions, give recommendations, and get cooperation partners, recruiters’ and potential job candidates’ attentions by demonstrating their expertise. This then pairs up with a member’s CV as another way of managing and boosting their online reputation. Data ownership is a key aspect, which is why the default setting is such that content in a member’s “Activity” tab is only visible to their own contacts. Users can of course edit this setting so that this information is completely invisible or available to everyone on XING.  

Share news with your network and via Twitter
From now on, members are just a few clicks away from posting job advertisements, events, and sharing interesting information and content with certain contacts or their entire network. This feature is now available in the “What’s new in your network” area and the “Activity” tab. Anyone wanting to spread the word beyond the realms of XING can also tick the box next to the Twitter icon so that their message will be posted both on XING and as a tweet to their twitter network.

New apps for mobile browsers and Android smartphones
The alpha version of the new Mobile Web App was recently released which is just as user-friendly as native apps and can be accessed by all HTML5-capable browsers by going to “

touch.xing.com”. In addition, the XING App for Android smartphones has also been revamped and now includes the “Mobile Handshake” and contacts’ birthdays.

The new features will be available to both basic and Premium Members as of tomorrow while the Mobile Web App is already available for use. The new XING App for Android smartphones will be launched in March. Tip for journalists:
If you wish, we will be glad to provide you with screenshots for editorial usage. Simply write an email to

press@xing.com; also check [

1] and [

2]. 
About XING
XING is the social network for business professionals. More than 10 million members worldwide use XING to boost their business, job, and career. XING is a platform where professionals from all kinds of different industries can meet up, find jobs, colleagues, new assignments, cooperation partners, experts and generate business ideas. Members can meet and exchange views in over 45,000 specialist groups, while also getting together at networking events. The platform is operated by XING AG, which was founded in Hamburg, Germany, in 2003 and has been publicly listed since 2006. In December 2010, XING acquired amiando AG, a Munich-based company and Europe’s leading provider of online event management and ticketing. Please visit www.xing.com for more information.