Salesforce puts on a new face

Winter 07 release adds User Interface options

Salesforce.com has shown off more of its imminent Winter 07 release at its Dreamforce conference in San Francisco, with key enhancements focused on user
interface flexibility and computer-telephony integration (CTI).

A new “hovers” feature lets users view lists and other details from tabs without mouse clicking. Pop-up alerts and alarms also make an appearance, prompting Salesforce chief marketing officer George Hu to quip, “It seems everyone else in the world is trying to get rid of pop-ups but you asked for them so there they are.”

Other cosmetic changes include a new Ajax-based calendar, the ability to embed mash-ups such as sales territories with Google Maps, and a revamped desktop.
The telephony integration includes 16 CTI connectors on AppExchange and a softphone with hold, transfer, conferencing, dialer and notepad.

Salesforce is working with a series of partners including Cisco as it tries to bridge the gap between business data and communications on the web.

“Before, when you needed to connect it was a totally different story [to data transactions over the web],” said Laurent Philonenko, Cisco vice-president. “We’re
changing that with the communications web. We’re not going to build our own solution, we’re going to work with partners.”

Salesforce will also use recent small purchases to add the ability to repurpose applications for mobile use and integrate Google AdWords marketing campaigns.
Other features include Lotus Notes integration, new approval workflows and the ability to view business analytics gauges from a dashboard.

The Winter 07 release is due before the end of this year.