Report: Microsoft to Buy Yammer for $1.2 Billion

From DailyTech: Microsoft is looking to scoop up business software company Yammer Inc. for $1.2 billion in an effort to add a little something extra to its Microsoft Office software.

Yammer is a social network intended for businesses. It was released in September 2008 and offers private communication within organizations instead of broadcasting messages to the public (like Twitter). Yammer also offers other types of software and file-sharing tools.

Acquiring Yammer could be a great move for Microsoft because it will likely allow Office to provide additional social features. While Microsoft already has SharePoint, which is a Web application platform associated with Web content management and document management, SharePoint lacks features like social networking and document sharing -- which Yammer can provide.

In addition, there are many new companies that could pose a potential threat to Microsoft because they are looking to revolutionize the way people work. Some of these companies include Jive Software Inc. and Box Inc. But with Yammer on its side, Microsoft could still hold its dominant spot in the business software sector.

Yammer has already raised $142 million from venture-capital investors. This also includes a fundraising transaction in February.

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