New: Quick access to OpenSocial applications and an easy way to report spam contact requests

Small patches such as the new shiny tabs in the profile, a new OpenSocial application and some new functions: The changes made to the platform today will both increase your level of security as a XING member and better integrate OpenSocial applications with member profiles.

Security: Reporting contact requests as spam

You now have a more direct way of marking contact requests as spam. Instead of going to a member’s profile to mark a contact request as inappropriate, you can do this directly under the Contacts to confirm tab.

Please note: Spam contact requests are not simply requests from members you don’t want to be connected to. For cases like this, you can simply decline the contact request (see also Silke Schippmann’s post Declining contact requests … How do I put this delicately?).

The point of marking a contact request as spam is to identify any members who are trying to send out dubious offers to a large number of people. It would be a good idea to use this button, for example, if someone you don’t know offers you a large amount of money, wants to have your email address or asks you to go to an external Internet address that looks like a XING address. Our support team handles all requests anonymously. (You can read more about this in Silke Schippmann’s post on Security and Privacy).

Even easier: Direct links to Tungle, SlideShare and Ask XING

We are also improving the integration of OpenSocial applications and XING member profiles. Now it just takes one click from a member’s profile view and you can start making an appointment through Tungle, view SlideShare presentations or take a look at questions and answers on Ask XING.

The XING Partner Ecosystem is also growing: Netviewer, the 17th OpenSocial application on our platform, allows you to easily organize and conduct online conferences. Go here to see a list of all XING applications.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment regarding OpenSocial applications using our feedback tool UserVoice (the “Feedback” link at the right) or discuss the topic in the XING Group.