Microsoft's (s msft) reported $1 billion deal to buy Yammer isn't done yet, but the move -- despite what many see as a too-hefty price tag -- could make sense.
Yammer has big name recognition in the burgeoning field of enterprise social networking -- its product lets colleagues chat about projects and share tips in a business-defined context. Microsoft Office remains the market-leading productivity suite despite incursions by OpenOffice, LibreOffice and Google Apps rivals.
Microsoft buying Yammer means that Microsoft wouldn't have to build an alternative to Yammer. Yes it's a billion dollars, but if anyone can afford it, it's Microsoft (and maybe Facebook?). They already own a segment of the business market, I think this would be a smart move on Microsoft's part.
