Business social network Viadeo has acquired Dutch start-up Soocial as ‘the French LinkedIn’ fattens its business for a potential IPO.
According to the company, Soocial’s contact management and universal contact synchronisation will improve user experience on Viadeo’s network and allow members to sync their contacts across more than 500 platforms, messaging services and devices, including PCs and smartphones.
Both companies supplied the usual somewhat banal quotes about working together, but this is still interesting. While LinkedIn’s share price has suffered lately, its IPO was largely successful and business social networks certainly have longevity.
By stealth and acquisitions in India and China, Viadeo now has more than 40 million members and offices in San Francisco, Mexico, Senegal (!) as well as London, Madrid, Beijing, and New Delhi. Is the acquisition of Soocial a springboard to an upcoming IPO?… perhaps.