Microsoft Acquires ProClarity

Microsoft said Monday that it had acquired analysis and visualization software maker ProClarity. The Boise, Idaho based company produces software and technologies that are compatible with Microsoft's business intelligence (BI) programs. The Redmond company said it was investing a great deal in BI, including in its upcoming Office 2007 productivity suite, and this acquisition builds upon those efforts.

BI software helps companies sift through the multitude of electronic data they accumulate, allowing them to see trends and patterns and increase productivity. "This acquisition advances our BI strategy and our ability to deliver performance management applications to customers," Microsoft Business Division president Jeff Raikes said in a statement. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.