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Rumors abound that Microsoft might buy Yammer

After some Yammer employees were supposedly overheard talking about an acquisition by Microsoft, there's speculation that the software giant might get some social networking modernization.

Dara Kerr Former senior reporter
Dara Kerr was a senior reporter for CNET covering the on-demand economy and tech culture. She grew up in Colorado, went to school in New York City and can never remember how to pronounce gif.
Dara Kerr
Windows 8 on a tablet could get Yammer integration. Rafe Needleman/CNET

Several people were overheard yammering today that Microsoft is supposedly acquiring the business social network Yammer, according to Business Insider.

Near Yammer's office, at the Caltrain station in San Francisco, people were reportedly heard talking about the possible buyout, according to Business Insider. Later, a woman named Sarah Taylor tweeted that she also eavesdropped on people talking about it at The Creamery, a coffee shop near Yammer's office.

That's not all, Business Insider reports that a source inside Yammer has also said that Microsoft is in the works of buying the startup.

San Francisco-based Yammer is sort of like Facebook for companies: employees can post, share, and discuss items. It's become an integral tool for many startups, but it's also big among larger businesses. More than 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Yammer. If Microsoft buys Yammer, it could help the Web dinosaur modernize with social-enterprise tools.

Still this rumor is far from being confirmed. CNET contacted Microsoft and Yammer for comment and we'll update the story when we get more information.