LinkedIn is the best for business though, although others are trying to catch up.
Plaxo is trying to catch them, but they got caught spamming a while ago... they don't do it anymore, but still...
Plaxo was good for a few things... you could always have a backup for your Outlook Contact list if you integrated it with Plaxo. I had a friend whose computer died and he lost ALL of his contacts... thanks to Plaxo, he was able to get them all back.
Plaxo would also give you full contact information for people who emailed you. Their database was not searchable though.
Smart IT people knew that if you could send yourself an email from that person, you could get their phone contacts and full PLaxo vCard if they were listed in Plaxo...
So a headhunter could, for example, send himself an email from the guessed email address of the bank President. If it's ther right one, Plaxo auto-updates the vCard and he can get the full contact info.
ping
BFL
Somewhat OT, but...
My 92-year-old dad is pretty sharp, but the 'Net has never appealed to him. He is fascinated by the e-mails I send of his favorite topic—amphibious aircraft—since he flew PBYs in the war. However, my stepmother seems to be losing what abilities she once had to operate my latest gift of a new XP computer and printer.
What product exists that could ease my Dad into the e-mails I send—that he is fascinated by?
I get about 3 - 4 LinkedIn network invites a week. I have no idea who 95% of the invitees are.
BMFL