LinkedIn App Arrives On BlackBerry

LinkedIn has officially released LinkedIn for BlackBerry version 1.0, an app that will allow users of the most popular smart-phone for corporate workers, to access their contacts whilst out and about.

LinkedIn for BlackBerry lets Blackberry Tour, Bold and Curve users do on their smartphones most of what they can already do from the full desktop version of LinkedIn.

The app lets LinkedIn users search among the 60 million LinkedIn members; send invitations to and accept invitations from prospective contacts; receive suggestions for new contacts; access connections and send them messages; and view network updates.

The app also includes tight integration between LinkedIn BlackBerry mail, contacts and calendar, Chad Whitney, the product manager for mobile products at LinkedIn, said in a blog post.

Specifically, users can sync LinkedIn connections with their BlackBerry address book and view the profile of any contact on their BlackBerry by selecting the “View LinkedIn Profile” option from a drop-down menu.

LinkedIn invitations and messages will appear in users’ BlackBerry Inbox as regular email. Messages sent from Linked members will include their LinkedIn profile. Moreover, users may view the LinkedIn profile of any attendee of a meeting on their BlackBerry calendar.

LinkedIn first seriously entered the mobile application realm two years ago with an application that lets users tap into their professional network from any web-enabled mobile device.

That mobile app focused on Apple’s popular iPhone, which has sold millions of units since its launch in 2007. LinkedIn for iPhone is a popular app and the company two weeks ago launched LinkedIn for iPhone 3.1 with greater speed and accessibility of contacts.

LinkedIn for BlackBerry is the latest of LinkedIn’s efforts to let users access their professional network from the road when they’re not sitting in front of their desktops or laptops in corporate offices.

The app should satisfy the millions of users whose companies issue them Blackberry smartphones for communications with fellow colleagues, partners, customers and other contacts.

“Now, you can walk into any interview, any customer engagement or client meeting with the ability to look up the details on over 60 million professionals worldwide, in real-time,” Whitney said.

The LinkedIn for Blackberry application is available for download from LinkedIn and is also available from the BlackBerry App World application on BlackBerry models it supports. These include the Blackberry Tour, Curve, and Bold devices running Blackberry OS version 4.3 or later.

Calling the BlackBerry platform “a top priority for the LinkedIn mobile team,” Whitney said users can expect regular enhancements to the LinkedIn for Mobile application through 2010.