Plaxo Gives Microsoft Outlook a Pulse

Plaxo's mashup with Outlook is the latest example of how the social Web is boosting online efficiency and productivity.

Plaxo is mashing up its Pulse social network with Microsoft Outlook, allowing users to get a grip on their friends' online activities on Pulse directly from their e-mail clients.

Launched Dec. 11, the refreshed Plaxo Toolbar for Microsoft Outlook, which synchronizes users' Plaxo address book to their Microsoft Outlook address book, now allows users to catch up with users through Pulse.

Users may check their friends' Pulse activities through Plaxo's Click-to-Connect box and Outlook's Contacts Detail view, said John McCrea, vice president of marketing for Plaxo.

For example, users will be able to see what a fellow Pulse member is sharing on blogs and social sites such as Digg, Twitter, del.icio.us, Flickr, Yelp, click over to see a person's full profile and content stream on Pulse, and grow their Pulse network via Outlook.

The idea, McCrea said, is to let users know what is top of mind for their friends, family or colleagues on Pulse from the application that "knowledge workers spend half of their time on these days."

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