Salesforce.com has detailed plans to share its knowledge and spending power with a host of followers by incubating small firms across global locations.

The strategy will see Salesforce offer office space along with expertise to firms building on its platform. A San Mateo, California facility - ironically the former home of one-time dominant CRM force Siebel Systems - will open early in 2007.

Rent in San Mateo will be pegged at about $20,000 per cubicle per annum including infrastructure and help with translations, sales and marketing. More spaces
are due over the next 18 months, including London. The offices will also help firms establish a presence in international locations, but Salesforce is exploring
the possibility of sites in areas requiring economic regeneration.

“There’s a great opportunity for us to work with governments on that,” said Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff.