2007.09.26
Digital Garage reaches agreement in principle with LinkedIn to support its operations in Japan
Digital Garage, Inc. (JASDAQ code: 4819, headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan, CEO: Kaoru Hayashi, henceforth DG) today announced it has entered into an agreement to work with LinkedIn Corporation (headquartered in California, U.S.A., CEO and President: Reid Hoffman), which provides world's largest business networking service, on extending LinkedIn’s global business into Japan.
LinkedIn has achieved popularity, especially among globally active business people in the U.S., the U.K. and various other countries, as a tool for the efficient performance of business tasks. The number of registered users has exceeded 14 million globally, with about 70,000 in Japan, as of September 2007.
LinkedIn users have access to the LinkedIn site where they can seek appropriate opinions in order to solve problems they encounter, for example, while carrying out their business duties. In some cases questions will be answered by experts in a field, while consultants might give advice to the inquirer in other cases. There are also cases where people who have expertise in that particular topic contact the inquirer, seeking employment. Thus, business people are able to directly solve problems through these services provided by the LinkedIn networking service.
Digital Garage and Linkedin will form a study group with Professor Jiro Kokuryo of the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University. The study group will focus on the use of open networks in the business success of the new generation of professionals in Japan.
Under the terms of the agreement, Digital Garage helps LinkedIn with establishing the right approach to the Japanese market. The study group will establish the fit between the Linkedin service and the modern business practices of Japanese professionals. Digital Garage will help determine the specialized structure of the Japanese site as well as establish corporate business structure in Japan.
Digital Garage also announced that it named Reid Hoffman, Chairman and President of LinkedIn, as a member of the advisory board. He will consult for Digital Garage regarding its investment in start-ups in United States.
