Microsoft to buy networking site LinkedIn for $26.2 billion

For Microsoft, the deal presents an opportunity to cement itself as the tech company for the world's professionals, helping them find jobs, learn new skills and do their work.

Microsoft will also look for ways to combine Microsoft's software for workers with the information stored in LinkedIn's online professional network.

[...] he said, LinkedIn's "news feed" — which provides articles and updates from your contacts on the network — could highlight information that's relevant to a project you might be working on using Microsoft's Office 365 software.

Microsoft may also integrate its business software with LinkedIn's growing business of providing sales professionals with contacts and information to help make sales to large companies.

Microsoft has a mixed track record with acquisitions, having written off more than $10 billion it poured into companies such as cellphone maker Nokia and an online ad firm called aQuantive.