Salesforce launches Chatter Mobile

Salesforce.com used its Cloudforce conference in London today to introduce Chatter Mobile. As the name implies, this will allow users of its Chatter business social networking tool to keep in touch whilst on the move.

Marc Benioff, Salesforce chief executive (CEO) and chairman, told the conference, unsurprisingly, he was a user of Chatter.

"Chatter Mobile means you can know what is happening in your entire enterprise wherever you are," he said.

He added he did not understand why all enterprise software was not like Facebook. "I think it is a compelling paradigm," he admitted.

Chatter Mobile is a smartphone app that allows staff to keep in touch with their colleagues on the move.

Chatter allows staff teams to work together in a social network, rather than having to set up a collaborative environment. This, Benioff claimed, allowed workers to communicate in much looser groupings, allowing anyone with input on a particular project to contribute.

The new product will allow messages sent to an individual to be received on the move and their own posts can be sent via their Apple iPhone or iPad, Android devices and RIM Blackberry phones. Benioff said support for Windows Phone 7 would be added as soon as the Microsoft phones hit the market.

Like Chatter, the mobile version will be available as a free addition to the Force.com platform. No specific release date has been set but it will appear before the end of the year.