Salesforce.com will upgrade its Chatter enterprise social networking (ESN) application for iOS and release one for the first time for Android on Tuesday, delivering in both new capabilities to integrate them with its main CRM software.
The mobile apps will let users access CRM account information stored in Salesforce.com from the Chatter activity stream and take a variety of actions from within that feed interface.
A new "publisher" component will let Chatter mobile users create and edit information and notifications, as well as take actions like creating a task, editing a contract, posting poll questions and configuring custom processes.
Some of the new capabilities will be available in the mobile apps on Tuesday, and other features will be delivered in the second half of the year.
Michael Peachey, a senior director of product and solutions marketing at Salesforce.com, said there are about 195,000 Chatter ESNs, and that the company recognizes that providing mobile access to them is crucial for its customers, which are experiencing a "huge shift to mobile" and the "new way of working" this represents.
Chatter, like other ESN applications, provides Facebook and Twitter-like functionality but adapted for a workplace setting and geared towards improving enterprise collaboration and communication.
With Chatter, employees can create professional profiles, set up an activity stream, join groups, participate in discussion forums and monitor trending topics, among other things.
Juan Carlos Perez covers enterprise communication/collaboration suites, operating systems, browsers and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Juan on Twitter at @JuanCPerezIDG.
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