Ann: Thred Confirms Microsoft Approval, page-150

Yeah I think you are on the right track there.

The contact aggregating core function is a goldmine in big data for the highest bidder. Microsoft will want to break down the siloed contacts to create a master address book in managing all communications and collaboration aspects of Office users daily grind.

Facebook may/may not be keen too given ties to and presentations to FB by the company 18m ago.

You may very well see Thred become part of the MS Suite at some point given the alignment of vision between the two.