Social-Networking Vendors Set Their Sights on the Enterprise

ZeroDegrees offers integration with Microsofts Outlook e-mail client. The software can scan a users Outlook account and make recommendations about which users should be added to the network. ZeroDegrees can import data from other e-mail clients as well.

Jeffrey said one feature thats becoming increasingly popular is the Inner Circle option, which allows users to create a restricted level for people with whom a user would "share [a] Rolodex." Those in the Inner Circle can contact each other freely, while other users have to request an introduction.

ZeroDegrees plans to ramp up its network in the next four months, with new sales-intelligence features and richer integration with other contact managers, Jeffrey said.

He acknowledged that there is a limit to using social-networking technologies for business. "Salespeople are mavericks, gunslingers; theres no way theyll let people get hold of their contacts," he said.

Next page: Its nice, but how do you make money off it?