Dropbox Buys Workplace Instant Messaging App Zulip

Dropbox has reportedly acquired workplace chat application developer Zulip as the cloud storage firm seeks to add collaboration features to its platform as part of a push into the enterprise market.

Zulip, which was formed by mainly Oracle alumni, lets co-workers send public and private messages to each other and has developed applications for Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad and Android, but all of its users are currently participating in a private beta as Zulip hasn’t even publicly launched yet.

The news of the acquisition was apparently leaked through a message sent by Zulip to its users, informing them of the takeover as it wanted to give its early supporters a heads-up.

Dropbox Zulip

“Here’s the deal: Dropbox is acquiring Zulip,” the alleged message reads. “We’re incredibly excited about working with an awesome group of people on a problem with huge scale, at a company that’s as passionate as we are about helping people work together efficiently.”

Zulip apparently asked the recipients to keep the news quiet as it planned on announcing it publicly in the next few weeks, but it inevitably ended up on Pastebin.

Having initially aimed at consumers, Dropbox is making a major play for business customers with the launch of Dropbox for Business and faces intense competition from the likes of Google Drive and Box, both of which offer real-time collaboration tools. The firm launched Dropbox for Business last year and is looking to improve its reputation having previously come under fire for its security credentials.

No financial details of any acquisition have been mentioned, and Dropbox had not responded to TechWeekEurope’s requests for comment at the time of publication.

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