Microsoft (MSFT 1.82%) wants to serve customers better over the cloud.
On Tuesday, the software maker announced it has agreed to buy cloud-based "customer engagement solutions" provider Parature for an undisclosed sum. Parature's services include such online offerings as mobile customer care on a variety of devices, social customer support (i.e. discussion boards), and online chat with customer service.
Microsoft says the company will add "world-class customer self-service capabilities" to its offerings.
The purchase will add a lot of customers for Microsoft. Describing the acquisition in a press release, Microsoft noted that Parature boasts 70 million users of its services worldwide. Clients of the customer relationship management (CRM) software maker include such well-known brands as Ask.com Tagged and Threadless, corporate clients including IBM, and even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Microsoft shares were up by about 0.7% in Tuesday morning trading.
