Asian Tech Press (Jan 07) -- According to mspoweruserx, Microsoft's LinkedIn has announced that it will launch an audio-based virtual social event platform at the end of January, with a video product to follow in the spring. The audio feature is expected to be similar to Clubhouse.

LinkedIn product manager said, "We want to make it easier for users to host virtual roundtables, small talks. Some people may want more formal meetings, some want more casual, but all in all, LinkedIn will support the interactive aspect for professional users."

The new service will initially be free to use, though Microsoft may introduce paid subscription features in the future. The new audio social platform is built within LinkedIn and is not included in the Microsoft ecosystem. The service runs directly on LinkedIn and does not require any other software for hosting or recording.