Microsoft is known for creating different types of applications in the field of software products. Microsoft Company has been one of the top companies in the USA in generating revenue.
It has also come under the listing of Fortune 500 ranking every year. The most popular product of Microsoft includes the Microsoft Office suite, which includes several applications.
Microsoft Yammer and Teams are the two types of sites used for communication and collaboration.
Key Takeaways
- Yammer is an enterprise social network designed for company-wide communication, while Teams is a collaborative workspace for team-focused communication and collaboration.
- Yammer enables open discussions and knowledge sharing across an organization, while Teams focuses on smaller groups and project management.
- Teams offer video conferencing, screen sharing, and real-time collaboration on documents, whereas Yammer primarily supports text-based conversations.
Microsoft Yammer vs Teams
Microsoft Yammer is a social networking platform built for workplace communication and collaboration, and it is geared toward greater communication and knowledge sharing with a large group. Microsoft Teams is a collaboration tool developed for chat-based cooperation, video conferencing, and file sharing, with a focus on project-based collaboration with a smaller group.
Microsoft Yammer is a social networking site that provides communication and collaboration to organizations privately. In Yammer, those who have access to its network can only use it.
For example, a user with Yammer’s internet domain or email address can access the groups in it. Initially, Yammer was not the product of Microsoft, and it was launched singlehandedly by Geni.com in the year 2008.
In 2012, Microsoft acquired for US 1.2$ billion.
Microsoft developed Microsoft Teams as a business platform that will act as a communication platform.
Teams have replaced Skype and Microsoft Classroom as it provides business messaging, videoconferencing, workspace chat, file storage, application integration etc.
Because of the present scenario where virtual meetings and meet-ups have become a significant part, Teams has gathered its follower due to various features.
It has been competing with other apps like Google Meet, Zoom, slack etc., for its users.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Microsoft Yammer | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 2017 |
| No. of Participants | Large groups | Small groups |
| Communication | Generic | Focussed and goal-oriented |
| Tone | Formal and Informal | Informal |
| Purpose | Brings people together. | Discussing projects or team meetings |
| Privacy | No confidentiality | Higher Confidentiality |
What is Microsoft Yammer?
Microsoft Yammer was built by David O. Sacks, who belonged to the Geni company. He launched Yammer in 2008.
It was used as an internal feature. After using Yammer for 6 months at Geni, he brought Yammer to TechCrunch50. There it was clear that Yammer would need its separate corporate email address.
Then Yammer was redesigned in 2009. Features that included were profile photos for groups, profiles, following suggestions etc.
In the coming year, new features like links, topics, Q&A, polls, chat, events, ideas etc.
Yammer also started the acquisition of different companies like One Drum. The platform has 1 million users in total. Then in the year 2012, Microsoft purchased Yammer.
Post-acquisition, it was included in Microsoft Office Suite, and it was integrated into Dynamics CRM. There was a subscription plan to purchase Yammer via the Office 365 plan.
Soon Yammer allowed the user to log in from Microsoft Office and also showed them options in Microsoft Office 365 as a header to include Yammer.
In 2019, Yammer was redesigned by Microsoft, and they called it New Yammer which was based on Microsoft’s Fluent Design systems.
Then in November 2019, Microsoft decided to merge the full integration of Yammer with Microsoft Teams. In 2020 new Native MNode Feature was introduced.
What are Teams?
Microsoft Teams was launched in 2017 at an online event in New York during an internal hackathon. Earlier, the features that are available in Teams were given by Skype for Business and Microsoft Classroom.
But these two were merged into the Teams after it became popular. Microsoft Teams has been a direct competitor of Slack.
In 2017, Microsoft announced it would give Microsoft Teams for free.
But at the same time, it will limit the number of users in a group, and the capacity to store files will also be reduced.
In November 2019, due to the hike in the number of users of Microsoft Teams by 1 million users. It introduced a new feature, i.e.
Walkie-Talkie, where all the smartphone and tablet users over the cellular network or wi-fi can use push-to-talk technology to speak.
That became very convenient for all those employees who could speak to customers during their daily operations. Various features in Teams include Chats where users can text, send emojis etc.
Then in Teams, various groups and communities are allowed to join specific URLs sent by the owner or administrator.
Various types of channels can be created. Calling and video-calling can be done. A meeting can also be scheduled and recorded. Users can also check the meeting in progress option.
Teams have created a revolution in the education sector, allowing teachers to give feedback, conduct quizzes, grade student assignments, distribute forms with office Forms, etc.
Main Differences Between Microsoft Yammer and Teams
- Microsoft Yammer was founded in 2008 by David O. Sacks. Teams were founded in 2017 during a hackathon.
- Microsoft Yammer has a wide range of audiences. It is met for larger groups to connect. Microsoft Teams is meant for smaller groups and communities.
- Communication in Microsoft Yammer is generic. While in Teams, they are more focused and goal-oriented.
- The tone used in Microsoft Yammer can be both formal and informal communications. As group members know each other in Teams, it is likely to be informal.
- The purpose of Yammer is to bring people together. The purpose of Teams is to discuss projects, presentations etc., with teammates.
- As Yammer is an open platform, that is no confidentiality. But in Teams, as groups are smaller. There is higher confidentiality as everyone cannot see your messages.
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4842-5875-0_1
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4842-3849-3_6
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I think merging Yammer with Teams was a bad decision. It’s confusing and we will lose on the features these two platforms specifically cater to.
I don’t understand why they would merge Yammer with Teams if they serve different purposes.
The purpose and features of Yammer and Teams are quite clearly defined in the article. The comparison of Microsoft Yammer and Teams is quite well put.
The post describes the evolution of 2 Microsoft products, it certainly is interesting to see how the products were founded and how they have evolved.
The research certainly gives a great background of information on these software products.
It is indeed fascinating to see how Microsoft entered different product spheres and the impact these products have had throughout the years.
Microsoft has brought a good competition to other apps retaining its features. I found the article very informative.
I agree with you! I also think that Microsoft is doing a good job in bringing new products to the table in a way that benefits the public in different ways.
I was a fan of Microsoft Teams’ features, but I do believe the merger with Yammer is unnecessary.
Interesting perspective. The merger might cause certain features of both Teams and Yammer to blur.