LinkedIn updates Android & iPhone apps, introduces ads to the mix

Professional networking site LinkedIn has upgraded its mobile app for the Android and the iOS platforms. Although we don't write about every app update, this one is one of the biggest revamps since the apps first came out. According to the company, the new mobile phone experience (one can access it via mobile apps and mobile web browsers) makes it easier for members to get the most relevant and timely professional insights, and offers personalised navigation pages for professionals to customise their LinkedIn mobile experience.

Additionally, to take advantage of the traffic that the company is getting via mobile, LinkedIn is also adding ads (in the form of sponsored content in the user's stream) to the apps, according to TechCrunch. The company already offers sponsored content on LinkedIn's Desktop and iPad versions.

Here is a look at what's changed.

Richer & more visual stream

The apps display the most relevant professional insights into the users' stream so that they can quickly discover and engage with all the professional conversations taking place across LinkedIn. This means a more engaging and visual stream with tailored updates, news, original posts from Influencers and more.

Personalised navigation page

You can now customise (like adding shortcuts for favourite tools) your LinkedIn mobile experience with a brand new personalised navigation page that offers better options than before. You can simply slide the main homepage screen to the right to find a customisable navigation page, preloaded with features that one may find handy while on the go.

Engage in professional conversations

The new apps also offer easier ways to join and engage in professional conversations by liking and commenting, without leaving the update stream. Also, considering that 64 per cent of LinkedIn members are located outside the US, the company has expanded its language offerings by adding Dutch and Norwegian for the iPhone app, and Turkish, Dutch and Norwegian for the Android one. This brings the total number of available languages for mobile to 15.

"We have completely revamped the mobile phone experience with the general professional and everyday use case in mind. There is much more in store for mobile this year, including more search and personalisation updates," wrote Tomer Cohen, product lead (mobile) at LinkedIn, in an official blog post.

(Edited by Sanghamitra Mandal)