UPDATED 15:00 EDT / FEBRUARY 24 2012

SAP Goes Social, Box Gives 50GB Free to Android Users

Yammer, a top provider of enterprise social network services, has integrated with the SAP ERP Central Component. The component, called Yammer SAP Connector, enables SAP customers to log activity stories in Yammer’s Ticker without leaving SAP interface. SAP is one of six companies, who already operate an integration partnership with Yammer.

The Yammer SAP Connector is a plug-in that allows users to track data objects in SAP. If changes are made ​​in SAP applications, the user receives a message with a link to take an appropriate action. SAP customers who have installed SAP Connector Yammer will receive updates from all business applications, including HR, ERP and CRM programs.

The connector was developed in collaboration with Freeborders, a certified SAP developer.

“The integrations we announced today are a continuation of our strategy to be the social layer on top of all systems of record critical business activity,” said David Sacks, CEO, Yammer. “In particular, the Yammer SAP Connector increases the value of Yammer for many of our large enterprise customers who use SAP daily to manage business processes.”

In their blog, Yammer announced other solutions that will work with SAP connectors. The ticker, for example, will be integrated with future Yammer solutions like GageIn, Kindling, Moreover Technologies, Planview and Sparqlight. Previously, Yammer integrated its interfaces with BadgeVille, Box, Expensify, Microsoft SharePoint 2010, NetSuite, Spigit, TripIt and Zendesk.

The Yammer connector will provide SAP the opportunity to extend their social enterprise networking and integration expertise.  SAP agreed to buy a cloud software company called SuccessFactors in December for $3.4 billion. SAP and SuccessFactors will accelerate the development of integration solutions with third-party solution providers, which will further strengthen SAP foot print into socially oriented cloud software businesses.

Box for Android Adds New Collaboration Features

Box is emerging as a growing competitor to Dropbox. The company that provides free space in the cloud is now offering 50 GB of free online storage for Android users. The promo runs until March 23 and the free storage is assigned automatically during installation (or update) of Box’s app.

Additional features include the long-awaited opportunity to transfer files in the background and monitor progress, so you can start uploading and come back to work without worrying about the file.

Box is also providing a teamwork mechanism to add comments to files, view discussion threads in the comments and monitoring activities. Additionally, the application makes it easy to call friends or colleagues to work together and send them notifications.

Free storage has been quite a marketing tool for Box. Last year, as a promotional campaign with LG, Box provided 50 GBs of free storage space for users who log into Box for Android on any LG phone running Android 2.1 or higher.

As companies like Evernote, Box makes money offering premium companies, who pay monthly fees for extra features and benefits. The maximum size per file is 25 MB in the free version, but the promotion on Android also raises the limit to 100 MB.

Companies are expanding more social enterprise capabilities to Android and iOS either through collaboration approach or with integration of apps with APIs. VoIP software maker Twilio has launched SDK platform for iOS and Android (beta release). The SDK works as a template for developers building apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod.


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