Comments on: Xing-Plaxo: No Deal

By: Dirk

Dirk — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:39:15 +0000

It’s not Plaxo – it’s ZoomInfo:

Hamburg, June 14 th 2007 – OPEN Business Club AG (ISIN: DE000XNG8888), operator of XING – a leading international business networking platform -will co-operate with the US company Zoom Information Inc. (www.ZoomInfo.com). ZoomInfo is a business information search engine that indexes the Business Web to quickly find information about industries, companies and people. The partnership will provide XING’s 2 million-plus members with immediate access to profiles on nearly 36 million business people and 3.8 million companies directly from the XING platform. Furthermore, XING Premium Members will have the ability to contact over 18 million professionals directly and securely. ZoomInfo’s 4.5 million unique monthly visitors will also be able to join XING’s business network directly with a simple two-click process. The integration between XING’s platform and ZoomInfo’s search engine is planned to go live in the fall of 2007. The entry into the US market is another step in the framework of the announced international expansion strategy of OPEN Business Club AG. The cooperation agreement with ZoomInfo represents the company’s first in North America.

By: wotan

wotan — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:46:20 +0000

And Lars Hinrichs, Xing’s CEO is known to be higly cost-concious. Few people that know him would believe that he’d spend so much money for something like Plaxo

By: Dirk

Dirk — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:37:44 +0000

I believe, 250 mio $ is by far too much. Xing has raised 55 mio € which is equal to 73 mio $. It’s unlikely that they will borrow money and leverage the company. By the way, what’s Plaxo’s real traffic/usage? Alexa’s data look strange compared to the number of users they have. Bye for now, Dirk

By: Jonthan Meier

Jonthan Meier — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 19:18:24 +0000

why would company valuation numbers(250 million + )be out there when it’s when it’s just talk.

By: Om Malik

Om Malik — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 18:20:46 +0000

You are right. Not much of a story. Well, between last evening and this morning, more information came in. Anyway these companies should work together, it makes absolute sense.

By: Markus Goebel

Markus Goebel — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 18:12:42 +0000

It's funny to see how your text looks totally different after the makeover. Not much of a story left.

I personally enjoy how Plaxo and Xing maintain my contacts up to date. It was very helpful recently when I organized our school anniversary and contacted the old friends.

A joint application would be even more useful.

By: Paul Jacobson

Paul Jacobson — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 07:40:34 +0000

I would be disappointed if there is going to be a takeover or sale of Plaxo to Xing. Plaxo recently established a link with LinkedIn where users of both services could effectively merge their contacts in Plaxo. A Deal with Xing could well mean the end of that link.

It would probably make more sense for Xing to do a similar deal with Plaxo and establish a link between the two services for users of the two services.

By: Om Malik

Om Malik — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 07:05:18 +0000

It would be better for them to simply make an alliance for now, and see what works and what makes strategic sense for them to buy. I think Plaxo has worked hard to overcome some of their initial problems and actually has become quite useful. Will keep you guys posted.

By: Martin Lawrence

Martin Lawrence — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 06:46:42 +0000

Would make a lot of sense. Xing has only one option to expand to the US: buy into or ally with an existing business network. If such a cooperation works out well for both sides, a merger would be best for both.

By: Sam Daoud

Sam Daoud — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 06:04:43 +0000

Om, it amazes me how you are always ahead of the blogosphere.