Microsoft & LinkedIn launch live video streaming

Microsoft & LinkedIn launch live video streaming

Microsoft owns LinkedIn & is now getting involved in live video streaming. The service called LinkedIn Live will allow users to live to stream their video content. It is believed that this service will be launched in the US in the next week, 18 months after LinkedIn started supporting videos.

The live service will focus on streaming; Q&As, events, conferences, earnings calls, awards ceremonies, product announcements & more. Microsoft is supporting LinkedIn Live by providing them with encoding technology to ensure the videos are streamed seamlessly. LinkedIn is also partnering with Wirecast, Switcher Studio, Wowza Media Systems, Socialive, and Brandlive to allow content creators access to various experienced broadcasting streaming services.

Pete Davies, the director of product management at LinkedIn recently stated in an interview with TechCrunch that, “Video is the fastest-growing format on our platform right now, & the one most likely to get people talking,” However, LinkedIn hasn’t yet revealed when this new service will be made available to all 600 million LinkedIn users.

What do know is that LinkedIn will now be facing strong competition from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube & many other live video streaming services. This service, however, will not be the place to watch the latest video games or where you will see friends & colleagues live streaming their recent holiday trips. LinkedIn has always been about professional connections & LinkedIn Live is a clear attempt to corner that niche of the streaming video market.