Microsoft social networks: Yammer vs SharePoint Newsfeed

Last year, when Microsoft acquired Yammer (the service for building enterprise social networks), it already had own the own social network based on SharePoint (now it's called SharePoint Newsfeed). And that's OK, because Microsoft bought Yammer not for the engine, but for the customer base and the image of  social vendor. But now, it seems, Microsoft doesn't know what to do with two almost identical solutions. In June, Office 365 users got the opportunity to replace SharePoint Newsfeed to Yammer, and Microsoft continues to insist that Yammer - is its future and that soon Yammer will become the platform for all its business apps. But on the other hand SharePoint Newsfeed also continues to evolve. For example, today SharePoint Newsfeed app for Windows 8 has been launched. And it's very similar to Yammer app for Windows (guess where is what on the screenshots).



And earlier this spring SharePoint Newsfeed apps for Windows Phone and iPhone / iPad appeared.

The fact is that Yammer - is purely SaaS service, and for the companies that use local SharePoint server and aren't ready to move to SaaS, Newsfeed remains the primary solution. So, probably, the two Microsoft's social networks will co-exist for a long time.

See also: Top 10 Enterprise Portals