Force.com breaks out to the web with Sites

Salesforce.com has launched an application that enables developers to build and run external websites on the software as a service company's Force.com platform.

Force.com Sites allows people to publish data and applications they've produced in the online software developer platform to any website.

Previously customers could only use the applications they'd developed in Force.com on corporate intranets and other internal networks.

Speaking at Salesforce.com's Dreamforce user conference in San Francisco, CEO Marc Benioff said: "The reality is powerful sites no longer need cost and complexity. Now you can run your whole web in our cloud."

He added: "This should be as big a transformation for your company as Salesforce.com when you first brought it in."

In keeping with Salesforce.com's emphasis on CRM the new capability could also be used to link customer websites to Salesforce.com CRM applications.

Legendary rock musician Neil Young has already signed up to use Force.com Sites.

Young has set up Linc Volt to promote the development of clean car propulsion technology with the ultimate aim of creating a zero-emissions car that removes the need for roadside refuelling.

Linc Volt has been informing people about its work through its website - published through the Force.com Sites application - where individuals keep up with the project's progress, view footage and contribute ideas to the scheme.

Speaking at Dreamforce, Young said: "We're always getting input from our huge virtual shop."

"Americans love to travel, it's a history here. Why do we have to be a slave to oil?" he added.

Linc Volt has created the 'Thinkin' Lincoln', which is a 1959 Lincoln Continental convertible that has been converted to run on a combination of electricity and compressed natural gas (CNG).

Visitors to the Linc Volt website can also track live data related to the Thinkin' Lincoln such as location, battery power and speed.

The Force.com Sites service is now available for free in developer preview form, with general availability expected in 2009. Group Edition customers can use it for up to 50,000 monthly page views, while Unlimited Edition customers can support up to one million page views per month.

CNET News.com's Mike Ricciuti contributed to this report