Viadeo's 'Global-Yet-Local' B2B Social Network Integrates with IBM Lotus Software to Provide Collaboration Tools for Professionals

PARIS, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Viadeo, one of the world's largest business social networks with more than 25 million members worldwide, today announced it is integrating Viadeo's networking capabilities and functionalities with IBM Lotus Notes messaging and collaboration software. Working together, the companies will provide Lotus software customers, including Lotus Notes users, more efficient ways to network and interact with their trusted professional network – at a global yet local ("glocal") level. Professionals will be able to more safely and effectively add business context to e-mail senders; learn more about collaborators, colleagues, potential partners and prospects; and facilitate new business relationships through integrated Viadeo profiles.

This integration will revolve around three key business functionalities shared between Lotus Notes software and the Viadeo widget:

1. While using Lotus Notes software, the user will be shown their Viadeo network activity feed.
2. When clicking on an email or contact:
   • If the sender's or contact's email address can be identified as belonging to a Viadeo member, the corresponding profile will be shown. If the Lotus software user and the email sender or contact are already contacts on Viadeo, the corresponding activity feeds will also be shown. Otherwise, a button will allow them to quickly and easily become contacts on Viadeo.
   • If the sender or contact is not a Viadeo member, a "360 degree Viadeo Search" based on first and last name will be performed and subsequent results displayed (e.g. Profiles, Events, Questions and Answers, Forum posts, Articles, etc.).
3. When checking an email or any other Lotus Notes object, the user will be able to select text and launch a "360 degree Viadeo Search" by simply right-clicking on the highlighted text.

"Teaming with the maker of one of the most widely-used enterprise collaboration tools represents a huge step forward for professionals and businesses looking to increase productivity and opportunities," said Dan Serfaty, founder and CEO of Viadeo. "Unlike other professional networking platforms, Viadeo tailors its services to optimize the way users connect, communicate and collaborate locally around the globe, and it was a natural progression for us to work with IBM Lotus Notes software, a leader in this area."  

Version 2.0 of the Viadeo widget for Lotus Notes will soon follow, offering users many more productivity tools and business opportunities.

Additionally, the upcoming integration with LotusLive will bring collaboration capabilities to both Lotus product and Viadeo users.

Lotus Notes – By integrating Viadeo into Lotus Notes software, users can add critical business context to the core communication experience in order to collaborate and communicate more efficiently. Integration with Viadeo will also help users monitor their broader professional network right within Notes, via a feed of network updates from Viadeo. Users will also be able to look up the Viadeo profiles of email senders or other Lotus Notes contacts and utilize the "360 degree Viadeo Search" without leaving the inbox they use all day.

LotusLive.com – By integrating with IBM's LotusLive.com service, users will be able to access Viadeo's professional network and then instantly collaborate with the professionals they need to work with using LotusLive services such as real-time web conferencing and file sharing. The Viadeo integration will be available at no additional cost to Lotus software users. The partnership is non-exclusive.

Serfaty added, "We look forward to strengthening our relationship with IBM Lotus Notes software to develop and deliver the tools that suit our customers' business context—locally and globally—and empower them to interact in a more effective and secure way."

Viadeo will be discussing the relationship in greater detail at the Lotusphere 2010 conference, IBM's premier event for the Lotus and collaboration community worldwide, taking place January 17-21 in Orlando, Florida.  

About Viadeo

Founded in June 2004, Viadeo quickly established itself as an essential tool for professional networking in Europe and beyond. Since then, Viadeo is used by those who want to increase their business opportunities (to discover new clients, staff and business partners), enhance their visibility and their online reputation, and manage and develop their network of professional contacts.

Viadeo's over 25 million members globally, consist of business owners, entrepreneurs and managers from a diverse range of businesses both start-up and well established. Based in Paris (head office), Viadeo also has offices and teams in the UK (London), Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), Italy (Milan), China (Beijing), India (New Delhi), Mexico (Mexico City) and Montreal (Canada). The Company employs 200 staff worldwide. For more information, please visit us on the Web at www.viadeo.com.

SOURCE Viadeo