Microsoft announced on Monday that it will buy Yammer, a social network service for businesses, for $1.2 billion in cash, as it seeks to strengthen its enterprise software business and compete more directly with Salesforce.com.
Under the terms of the expected deal, Yammer will be added to Microsoft’s office division and will continue to be led by David Sacks, its chief executive.
Yammer, which calls itself “the enterprise social network,” is a sort of Facebook for business. Its Web-based service allows companies to create private social networks, where employees can privately chat, shares files and collaborate on projects.
