Microsoft acquires LiveLoop, an Office collaboration tool maker

Microsoft continues its acquisition spree with the addition of a new productivity startup called LiveLoop. The five-person San Francisco-based company which has been acquired for an undisclosed amount, shares users' PowerPoint presentations on the Internet without compelling them to download or use any other software unlike GoToMeeting and WebEx.LiveLoop has posted the notice (seen below) on their website, informing masses that its service will discontinue from April 24. The company did not provide any further information as to why this move has been taken. It also informs that the company will be deleting all presentations and user data after the given date.[caption id="attachment_260836" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image: www.liveLoop.com[/caption]According to a report by ZDnet, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the company has bought LiveLoop and stated that, "Microsoft is excited to welcome the talented team from LiveLoop to help build great collaboration across Office applications, as part of our strategy and vision to reinvent productivity." LiveLoop is financially backed by venture capital firms New Enterprise Associates and Columbus Nova Technology Partners.The deal is part of a line of productivity app acquisitions by the company. Microsoft had also acquired Sunrise Calendar app in a deal valued at $100 million early this year. Sunrise applications will continue to be available for free, according to Pierre Valade, chief executive of the two-year-old company.In December, Microsoft also acquired the mobile email management application Acompli, in a deal reported to be worth more than $200 million. The deal gives Microsoft a startup helping people more easily manage their mail on handsets using Google Android or Apple iOS operating systems.