Microsoft has announced that it has agreed to acquire Chicago-based Parlano, the maker of the enterprise group chat platform MindAlign. Microsoft said that it would use Parlano’s group chat functionality to improve Microsoft Office Communications Server and Microsoft Office Communicator. Parlano’s platform provides group chat technology “that enables people to carry on topic-specific, multi-party instant messaging discussions that persist over time.” Parlano’s existing clients include financial services companies and call centers. Microsoft plans to offer group chat as part of the standard client access license for Office Communications Server 2007. The terms of the acquisition were not announced. The deal is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2007. → Read More