Bill Gates signs up to LinkedIn

By

Microsoft chief Bill Gates has set up a profile on business-focused social network LinkedIn, in a bid to encourage young people to pursue careers in science and technology.

The move comes as LinkedIn launches a tool that will allow its 19 million members to broadcast their daily activities to their connections, similar to the “status update” tool on Facebook. Microsoft owns a 5% stake in Facebook.

The decision to take a closer look at LinkedIn comes at time when Microsoft chairman Gates is trying to pursue the slumping Yahoo! business for more than $40bn (£20bn). It is not clear if Microsoft has LinkedIn in its sights as a possible take over. Last July the website was reported to have indicated that it would be more likely to make an initial public offering of stock during the next year or two, instead of putting itself up for sale.

Like most social networking sites LinkedIn also offers privacy controls. It is thought that Gates, formerly a Facebook member, has stopped using the site following a flood of requests from strangers who wanted to be his friends.

Recommended

Mencap hands top marketing role to education director

Marketing Week

Mencap, the learning disability charity, has promoted Alison Sargent to its top marketing role ahead of an overhaul of the brand, which will start next month. Sargent replaces Deborah Hamilton-Lewis, who has left the charity, and will be marketing director, adding marketing duties to her existing responsibilities as director of the education and employment business […]

TUI to axe Eclipse and Sunstart after review

Marketing Week

TUI, the travel company, is axing former First Choice brands Sunstart and Eclipse following a review of the two businesses. The review of the two brands comes just weeks after the company announced a new marketing strategy, including positioning First Choice as its family brand and using Thomson to target older, more affluent consumers (MW […]

Can iTunes work its magic with TV programmes?

Marketing Week

Apple’s iTunes store continues to dominate the music download market, despite a steady stream of challengers, but it may find it hard to replicate that winning formula with its TV and film download service. The store already sells a few hit TV shows but is ramping up its UK offering following last week’s tie-up with […]

Latest from Marketing Week