Microsoft Corporation on wednesday 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 Microsoft® Office Communications Server and Microsoft Office Communicator, Microsoft’s server and client software for presence, instant messaging, conferencing and VoIP.

Parlano is a leading provider of persistent group chat solutions. Parlano’s MindAlign solutions deliver instant, intelligent and persistent group and topic-based messaging to securely connect employees, customers and partners with the right people, information and context to execute business processes more efficiently. Some of the largest companies in the world rely on Parlano to utilize group chat as a strategic business tool. Backed by Longworth Venture Partners and Oak Investment Partners, Parlano supports its customers and partners from its worldwide headquarters in Chicago, Illinois and EMEA headquarters in London.

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Parlano has about 50 employees, and an unspecified number will join Microsoft in Redmond, the companies said. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter.

MindAlign originated inside financial services firm UBS, before it was spun out, said Jeff Schultz, Parlano’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

Whereas stock traders in the past would have been in the same location, making it possible to yell across a room, it’s now necessary for groups in different locations to communicate in much the same way, virtually.

Parlano’s Web site lists financial services customers including ABN-AMRO, Putnam Investments, Cantor Fitzgerald, UBS and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Although Parlano’s software could previously be integrated with Microsoft’s communications programs by interested businesses, Microsoft has seen demand for group chat functions to be built natively into its programs, said Eric Swift, a senior director in Microsoft’s Unified Communications Group.

Source: Parlano

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