Salesforce.com Inc. paid $50 million to acquire Assistly, a deal that allows the software firm to offer cloud services to small and emerging businesses.

Specifically, Assistly's customer-service desk allows the companies to set up and deliver social customer-service, as well as engage with customers in real time over a range of channels--including Facebook, Twitter and Web chats.

The purchase price is net of cash acquired. As part of the transaction, Salesforce.com assumed Assistly's unvested options and will issue restricted stock units to some Assistly shareholders.

The deal isn't expected to have a material impact on Salesforce.com's revenue in the first quarter and fiscal year ended Jan. 31. The acquisition is expected to reduce adjusted full-year earnings by 2 cents a share, lowering the company's expectation to a range of $1.28 to $1.30 a share.

Salesforce.com said more than 17,000 companies are using the firm's service cloud to connect with customers across both traditional and social channels. With the purchase of Assistly, Salesforce.com said it can now tap a market that includes millions of small and emerging businesses that hope to use a cloud-based suite of sales and business management software.

Last month, Salesforce.com reported it swung to a loss in its fiscal second quarter as compensation and write-downs offset a slightly higher core profit. Revenue climbed 38% during the period, topping expectations.

Source: Wallstreet Journal