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Salesforce.com, the maker of business software has introduced a free mobile offering of its customer relationship management (CRM) services.

Mobile Lite will offers existing Salesforce customers access to its CRM service via a number of smartphones.

Mobile Lite is available on Apple's iPhone, Research in Motion's Blackberry smartphones and Windows Mobile devices.

"We want even more customers to experience the success possible with mobile access to our cloud," said Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO, Salesforce.com.

"We want our customers to take the cloud with them, wherever they go. By delivering mobile access to our cloud, for free, we're accelerating adoption of the cloud and delivering value to customers in times when they need it the most."

Salesforce says its Mobile Lite service offers customers basic access to some of the most common CRM features including email, customer requests, leads, search solutions and other updated information.

"Ten years ago, accessing applications on your cell phone was considered advanced. Today, mobile access to enterprise applications is expected," said Sheryl Kingstone of Yankee Group. "Salesforce.com understands the productivity benefits that come with mobile access, and is making Mobile Lite an added benefit of Salesforce CRM."

Professional Edition and Enterprise Edition customers can upgrade to the full Mobile version of Salesforce CRM for an additional $50 per user per month. Unlimited Edition customers can have access to the full mobile edition for free.