Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

The purchase might help Microsoft compete with rivals IBM and Cisco in the red-hot unified communications market.With billions of dollars at stake in the market for unified communications, Microsoft on Aug. 29 agreed to acquire enterprise group chat software maker Parlano for an undisclosed sum.

In 2000, Parlano launched group chat technology that enables people to carry on topic-specific, multiparty instant messaging discussions that persist over time. Companies in several industries use MindAlign to conduct such conversations.
Parlano and Microsoft were hardly strangers before the acquisition. Parlano created its technology architecture from the ground up to integrate with Microsoft’s unified communications offerings. The software integrates with Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 and Office Communications Server 2007, making it a seamless acquisition from a technology standpoint.

MindAlign also runs on Office Live Communications Server 2005, the previous version of Office Communications Server 2007. Microsoft dropped the "Live" part of the name last year and recast the software as a hub through which enterprises can run various forms of communications, including VOIP, enterprise instant-messaging, interactive voice response systems and video conferencing.

News Release
REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 30, 2007 — TodayMicrosoft Corp. announced it has agreed to acquire Chicago-based Parlano, maker of MindAlign, a leading application for enterprise group chat. Microsoft expects to add Parlano’s group chat functionality as a new feature of Microsof.® Office Communications Server and Microsoft Office Communicator, Microsoft’s server and client software for presence, instant messaging, conferencing and VoIP.

“Parlano has been successful in meeting the rigorous communications needs of companies in financial services and other vertical markets,” said Gurdeep Singh Pall, corporate vice president of the Unified Communications Group at Microsoft. “Parlano’s expertise and technology, added to Microsoft’s unified communications offering, will deliver customers the most complete presence, instant messaging and group chat solution on the market.”

Founded in 2000, Parlano offers group chat technology that enables people to carry on topic-specific, multiparty instant messaging discussions that persist over time. Parlano’s software is used by companies in a variety of industries, including financial services, call centers and technology, to conduct ongoing business-critical conversations.

“Parlano has helped many organizations enhance operations, improve service delivery and increase sales through more effective ongoing group communication, collaboration and knowledge sharing,” said Nick Fera, chairman and chief executive officer of Parlano. “The resulting competitive advantage will be further enhanced as we bring Parlano technology together with Microsoft Office Communications Server and Office Communicator.”

Because Microsoft’s unified communications technologies are based on standards and open protocols, Parlano has been able to create its technology architecture from the ground up to integrate with Microsoft’s unified communications offerings. Currently, Parlano’s MindAlign application integrates with Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 and Office Communications Server 2007.

After the deal closes, Microsoft will add the group chat functionality to Office Communications Server and Office Communicator, and plans to offer group chat as part of the standard client access license for Office Communications Server 2007 Software Assurance customers. Current Parlano customers, many of whom already use Microsoft unified communications software, will have increased access to the breadth of Microsoft unified communications software.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. The deal is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2007. Following the closing of the acquisition, members of the Parlano team are expected to join the Unified Communications Group at Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash., campus. Parlano is a privately held company and was represented by Revolution Partners and Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP.