The announcement today that software giant Microsoft is to buy professional social platform LinkedIn for $26.3 Billion ( £18.5 billion ) saw the share price of the network rise by 50% in before hours trading.

This deal is the biggest in Microsoft’s history.  LinkedIn has over 400 million members round the World, it allows professionals to upload virtual CVs and network with people both in and out of their industry and local area as well as join groups on various topics.

LinkedIn is often used by companies headhunting new recruits and it offers over 7 million online job listings at any one time.

Microsoft plans to integrate the LinkedIn technology with their family of professional productivity software including the popular Office 365 brand.