Results: LinkedIn revamps messaging to keep pace with rivals

LinkedIn wants it to be easier for its users to keep the conversation going. The networking site for professionals announced Tuesday that it is revamping its messaging feature to allow for more short, casual conversations and group conversations. The company also said it has rebuilt the feature from the ground up for "a more cleaner and more streamlined look" and an improved chat-style interface for faster back-and-forth messaging. With more than 380 million users, LinkedIn is hoping the new messaging feature will put it on par with the likes of Facebook's popular Messenger and Twitter, which recently removed its 140-character limit for direct messaging. LinkedIn also wants the tool to be enticing enough for users to not only log in more, but stay for long stretches. Earlier this summer, the social network launched "Lookup" an internal employee directory app that allows coworkers to easily find each other. Though LinkedIn members could already send messages to each other through its InMail service, its new messaging feature will now allow them to add emoji and GIFs to messages. The updated messaging feature is currently available to English-speaking members globally on the Web and on devices running Apple's iOS and Google's Android software. LinkedIn plans to make it available in other languages in the coming weeks. Hull also intimated that LinkedIn may add some artificial intelligence component, comparable to Facebook's "M" service released last week, to its new messaging feature as well. "We're excited about concepts like intelligent messaging assistants that can help suggest people you should message or provide you with relevant information about that person before you start a conversation," Hull said. "Or the possibilities with voice and video to make conversations more compelling."