XING launches product offensive this fall

• New design and optimized user navigation
• Mobile “Handshake”
• New plugin integrates XING with Microsoft Outlook
• XING’s first ever TV campaign

Hamburg/Cologne, September 15, 2010 – This fall sees XING launch a major new productive offensive. In future the online platform will have a newly revamped design, along with a host of enhancements to the user navigation and brand new features such as the mobile “Handshake”.

Stefan Gross-Selbeck, CEO of XING AG, unveiled the new improvements today at the dmexco – a digital marketing exposition and conference in Cologne. “Careers and business thrive on good contacts,” he said. “Now XING members can manage and expand their network of contacts even more effectively. They can network wherever they are and with yet more people, enabling them to gain even more from the potential of their personal network. This in turn will increase the level of activity on our platform and raise the satisfaction levels of our members still further.”

Here’s an overview of the new features:

XING now even more effective: Thanks to new design and significantly improved user interface

Form follows function: This basic design principle forms the backbone of XING’s new look. The design is more clearly structured and intuitive, allowing users get to get things done even quicker. It is tailored to business professionals who have to see what really matters in an instant in their daily working lives. Clearly defined sections, standardized colors and page layouts make navigation easier, with many key networking features such as those for ‘finding new contacts’ and ‘expanding your network’ now just one click away from the start page.

The main functional component of the redesigned start page is the “Notifications” field: It gives users a clear summary at a glance of all their contact requests, messages, event invitations and group newsletters.

From now on, the “My XING” menu will form the control center of XING’s navigation: Wherever members are, just one click will take them directly to their contacts, messages, groups, etc.

The new Universal Search makes the XING platform an even more powerful search tool as well. When searching for a specific term, both basic and premium members will now have access to relevant results found in all sections across the platform – from members to groups and events, right through to company profiles and job listings.  

XING now accessible everywhere: With new mobile service including mobile “Handshake” and plugin for Microsoft Outlook

From now on, members will be able to give each other a mobile “Handshake” by way of virtual introduction, using their HTML 5 compatible smartphones to instantly become XING contacts with the people they’re with at the time. Members logging in to XING on their smartphone’s mobile browser will see a handshake symbol in future. When two members stood next to one another both activate this symbol, they’ll be able to connect up on XING right there and then. This feature is available on all HTML5-enabled smartphones and based upon geopositioning. It will also be integrated into XING’s new iPhone App at the end of September.

In addition to this, Microsoft Outlook users are set to benefit from a partnership between XING and Microsoft from tomorrow onwards – with the launch of the XING Plugin for the Microsoft Outlook Social Connector. This plugin will transform XING members’ Outlook inbox into their main messaging hub: They will receive profile information and network updates about their business contacts, and be able to expand their network – without leaving Microsoft Outlook.

XING’s first ever TV campaign

Members will be able to start making use of the new improvements and innovations from Thursday morning onwards. This launch will be accompanied by XING’s first ever TV campaign, which will hit the airwaves on 16 September and be broadcast through to mid-October on ntv, n24, Eurosport, SAT 1, Pro7, RTL and a number of other channels.

About XING
XING.com is the social network for business professionals. Millions of members use the platform to do business and promote their career. XING makes networking and professional contact management simple, with made-to-measure networking functions and services. The XING community is highly active with members meeting, exchanging views in more than 40,000 specialist groups, and getting together at networking events to share their contacts, skills and expertise. The XING business network is based on trust - It boosts members’ career prospects while acting as a recruiting portal for both companies looking to fill vacancies and qualified professionals interested in a new challenge.  XING is the only network in the world to offer full SSL encryption.  The platform is operated by XING AG, a listed company with headquarters in Hamburg and offices in Barcelona and Istanbul. Please visit www.xing.com for more information.

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