Salesforce.com Adds More Sophisticated Development ToolsSalesforce.com Adds More Sophisticated Development Tools

Salesforce.com on Thursday launched in beta tools that make it possible for developers to integrate the company's software-as-a-service platform with their application development environment.

Called the Force.com Development-as-a-Service, the tools include a metadata application programming interface for accessing database schema, user interface code and business logic on the Salesforce.com platform, Ariel Kelman, senior director of platform product marketing, told information. Developers can also download from Salesforce.com an application that enables development and deployment of software from an Eclipse-based integrated development environment. Eclipse is an open source development framework.

In addition, developers can set up sandboxes on the Salesforce.com platform that are a complete instance of a SaaS application. In this way, developers can build and test code in the sandbox, before moving it over to production.

Finally, Salesforce.com has made an API available for integrating the development process within source code control management systems, such as Perforce Software products or IBM's Rational software. Using the Salesforce.com tool, developers can store definitions of applications in their systems for sharing and collaboration with other developers. For online collaboration, Salesforce.com's code share also supports Google's online repository called Google Code.

The latest launch reflects how Salesforce.com is adding more sophisticated development tools to its platform; in order to give subscribers the flexibility to tailor the company's hosted customer relationship management and sales force automation software. Last summer, Salesforce.com launched its Apex development platform that comprised a programming language and online development tools.

In general, more flexibility in application development appeals to large corporations with an IT staff available to build on top of Salesforce.com's core services. Long known as a provider of online services for small and medium-sized businesses, the company has moved up the food chain. A year ago, computer maker Dell became Salesforce.com's second large customer with 15,000 employees licensed to use the software, joining Cisco Systems.

In January, Salesforce.com announced that it had signed travel company Carlson as a customer. The $37 billion-a-year company with holdings that include Radisson Hotels, T.G.I. Friday's, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has deployed Salesforce's CRM software service across five of its operating groups.

In November, Salesforce.com chief executive Marc Benioff predicted that the company would reach $1 billion in annual revenues within a year. The company, however, is facing stiffer competition. Microsoft, for example, released in December a new version of its CRM software, CRM 4.0, which gives Microsoft and its hosting partners the ability to host CRM in much higher volumes, setting the stage for a showdown with the likes of Salesforce.com. Microsoft plans to launch its SaaS version, called CRM Live, in the first half of this year.

Salesforce.com's new Force.com Development-as-a-Service is in developer preview on the company's developer site. The tools are expected to become generally available this year.

In addition, Saleforce.com on Thursday launched a second pricing model for its software. Subscribers now have the option of paying until the end of the year 99 cents each time a user logs in to an application. After the promotional period, the price raises to $5, Kelman said. The idea is to give customers a different payment option for applications that are not used everyday, such as those for handling employee vacation requests or expense reports.

For heavily used applications, customers can choose the traditional monthly option of $50 per user for unlimited use.