Salesforce.com has launched its Platform Mobile Services product to extend its cloud platform for mobile app development. Along with new tools and developer programs here are connections to other "industry-leading" development frameworks.
Salesforce EVP Mike Rosenbaum boldly claims that with these new mobile services, "CIOs can immediately accelerate every mobile app dev project in their backlog."
New Salesforce platform mobile services include:
- Salesforce Mobile SDK 2.0 — This open-source project works to connect enterprise data to native, hybrid, or HTML5mobile apps on any iOS or Android device. The SDK will enable HTML5-based apps to leverage device features like the camera and geolocation services; it also provides additional libraries such as authentication and secure offline storage.
- Developer Mobile Packs — These open source "quick start" packs are designed to enable web developers to build HTML5 or hybrid mobile apps on any platform (and access real-time Salesforce data) using Salesforce Platform REST APIs through a choice JavaScript frameworks: AngularJS, Backbone.js and jQuery Mobile.
"Application development today is increasingly mobile-first, built with open source frameworks", said James Governor, founding analyst, RedMonk. "Salesforce.com is responding by packaging up popular mobile and web tooling to make it easier to extend its apps and rethink process interaction models."
Also included here is Salesforce Mobile Accelerator Program, a program for consulting and deployment providers. The program will provide training and best practices on reference architectures, mobile architect curriculum, and consultant certification.
