<p>Buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to distinguish one vendor's products from the products of other vendors in the social software market. According to Gartner's latest magic quadrant for social software, competition between vendors is no longer about product functionality, but about the vendors themselves.</p><p>Researched and developed by Nikos Drakos, Jeffrey Mann and Mike Gotta, this year's Magic Quadrant for Workplace Social Software points to a market that is mature, well developed, and crammed with competing companies offering well offering much the same product when all the marketing literature is brushed aside. Market Definition of Social Software</p><p>To be clear about what is being discussed here, Gartner defines social software for the workplaces as software that is used principally for enterprise collaboration by putting individuals, teams, communities and networks in contact with each other. The principal gains in using this software and which Gartner sees as key includes: Making professional contacts. Accessing contact lists of those that can offer advice, reference and referrals. Team formation and collaboration on tasks.</p><p>The current social and collaboration market is worth an estimated US$ 840 million but, unlike some other software sectors, is growing strongly. Gartner estimates that between now and 2016, the market will grow 13.4% annually and will be worth US$ 1.4 billion.</p><p><a href="http://www.cmswire.com/cms/social-business/gartner-mq-for-workplace-social-software-ibm-jive-microsoft-salesforce-lead-volatile-market-022480.php">Keep reading...</a></p>