LinkedIn And BranchOut Quarrel Over API Access- Click here http://bit.ly/nh53Uz for full article

LinkedIn And BranchOut Quarrel Over API Access- Click here http://bit.ly/nh53Uz for full article

BranchOut, a self-described professional online networking service, has been denied access to LinkedIn's Application Programming Interface (API) for what LinkedIn describes as a violation of its Terms of Service (TOS). This decision by LinkedIn comes on the heels of the wildly successful initial private offering debut of the company on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNKD.

LinkedIn is not the only social media giant that has cut off API access to third-party developers for reportedly failing to follow TOS. The flagship social networks Facebook and Twitter have also denied API access to application developers for alleged TOS violations.

BranchOut is considered by many to be a direct competitor to LinkedIn since both networks offer various similar features to its users. At the heart of both BranchOut and LinkedIn are the business-minded profiles that concentrate on work experience, education, as well as recommendations from former bosses, coworkers, and peers.

LinkedIn's claims against BranchOut are centered on the idea that the company has future plans to roll-out premium job recruiting services. Other features that are common to both LinkedIn and BranchOut are the opportunities to browse job listings and to get sales leads from the extensive amounts of available data.

BranchOut already utilizes another API which is crucial for its operational success: Facebook. In a statement released by BranchOut in response to news reports of LinkedIn's API denial, the company explained that data gathered from the LinkedIn API was barely used by members. BranchOut seems to be more interested on the social networking potential of Facebook: more than 700 million users worldwide, many of them professionals.

LinkedIn has become very protective of its API according to recent news reports. With more than twenty thousand developers accessing its API, LinkedIn may have every right to be concerned about who is using its API and for what purpose. LinkedIn charges developers API access fees in some cases, a business model they hope to further monetize in the near future. LinkedIn is in a delicate position regarding protecting their customer data and allowing third party developers to get close to it.

Social networks such as LinkedIn and BranchOut are great tools for business owners who wish to get the most out of their online presence. Social media experts predict that as more networking sites continue to battle for dominance, business owners stand to gain by choosing where to display their online profiles and how to best manage their professional relationships.