A top-down social network?

Visible Path is pitching itself as an enterprise-based social networking site, a concept which makes sense in some ways, for some people, but comes up short overall I think.

Unlike LinkedIn, the network would be paid for by your employer, for example, and based on existing relationships in that company. I can see why a company might benefit from this, but as the actual social networking "unit," what does it do for me? Not much, I'd think.

CEO Antony Brydon seems to be acknowledging as much in a classic, have-it-both-ways quote in this Business Week piece:

"The value in our case accrues to the enterprise, although it also accrues to individuals who comprise the enterprise."

So what happens when you leave that company? Is there any way to carry that "value" with you? Or does the company "own" your contacts. Sounds like having to leave your Rolodex behind for the next guy.

LinkedIn is far from perfect. In this TalkCrunch podcast, Michael Arrington asked LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman what happens after you build your profile. What's there to do? Why come back? I'm still not sure what the answer is. Seems like there's lots of fallow periods punctuated by occasional flurries of activity around job change, professional reference request, etc.

But at least that profile and that network is mine, no matter who I work for. This seems like a model much better suited to a world in which people change jobs and/or freelance often. Does a social network for the enterprise exist at the wrong granularity? Is there any way to import/export your existing networks? Don't know the answers (and even though I linked to it up top, I've been unable to get to their site) so I can't draw too many conclusions.

But as far as the concept goes, since the strength of the network would seem to derive from the enthusiasm and use of its members, I do wonder how "social" it can really be. I'll be interested to see how they do.