Microsoft confirmed an agreement to acquire Yammer, an enterprise social network, for USD 1.2 billion cash. Yammer will join the Microsoft Office Division, to be integrated with Microsoft's enterprise software and cloud services, such as SharePoint, Office 365, Microsoft Dynamics and Skype. Launched in 2008, Yammer counts more than 5 million corporate users, including employees at 85 percent of the Fortune 500 companies. The service allows employees to join a secure, private social network, where businesses can present companywide strategic initiatives. Yammer will continue to develop its standalone service and cross-platform experiences, Microsoft said.
