Microsoft is making a massive bet on professional social networking: It has reached an agreement to buy LinkedIn for $26.2 billion, in what would be one of the largest tech industry deals in history.
Viewed one way, the deal is effectively a bet on a new kind of professional workplace, where Microsoft's Office 365 and other "productivity and business processes" products merge with the largest professional social network.
"In essence, we can reinvent ways to make professionals more productive while at the same time reinventing selling, marketing and talent management business processes," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a memo to employees.
"This combination will make it possible for new experiences such as a LinkedIn newsfeed that serves up articles based on the project you are working on and Office suggesting an expert to connect with via LinkedIn to help with a task you're trying to complete," Nadella wrote.
LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner echoed that idea, saying the deal will help the company continue to "connect professionals to make them more productive and successful." The company says it has more than 433 million subscribers and 105 million unique visiting members a month.