Salesforce.com released their Winter '07 Enterprise Edition earlier today, and it's incredible. After taking an advance look, I found it to potentially be the most significant SFA rollout from the pioneering software-as-a-service company in years. With many of the enhancements prescribed in my last review making it onto the product roadmap, this edition has a newfound sense of direction in terms of usability, au Salesforce.com released their Winter ’07 Enterprise Edition earlier today, and it’s incredible. After taking an advance look, I found it to potentially be the most significant SFA rollout from the pioneering software-as-a-service company in years. With many of the enhancements prescribed in my last review making it onto the product roadmap, this edition has a newfound sense of direction in terms of usability, automation, and enterprise connectivity that should greatly benefit adoption and accelerate ROI. Perhaps the most visible upgrade in Winter ’07 comes from the ability to tailor the entire interface like never before. Gone are the days of jumping between browser pages just to get the data you need: an added Console tab offers list views from across the platform on a single page. I also liked the functionality infused by the sleek new AJAX underpinnings. Previously static features, like the calendar, now sport mouseover pop-ups for quick, clickless event details and editing. The same applies to a new categories banner across the page top that reveals real-time status and details on items such as pending opportunities and activities, which improve productivity. Both make strong UI additions.Perhaps the most visible upgrade in Winter ’07 comes from the ability to tailor the entire interface like never before. Gone are the days of jumping between browser pages just to get the data you need: an added Console tab offers list views from across the platform on a single page. I also liked the functionality infused by the sleek new AJAX underpinnings. Previously static features, like the calendar, now sport mouseover pop-ups for quick, clickless event details and editing. The same applies to a new categories banner across the page top that reveals real-time status and details on items such as pending opportunities and activities, which improve productivity. Both make strong UI additions.The updated dashboards are too cool for school. Now with made-to-order insight through embedded S-Controls (widgets and services for plugging custom apps or analytics into the mix), these dashboards go a long way toward graphically illuminating KPIs.The expanded workflow feature has a good, point-and-click rules development interface allowing quick automation of tasks as well as approvals, e-mail alerts, and data field updates. Also, workflow can fire off XML SOAP messages, making SFDC (Salesforce.com) that much easier to integrate with my in-house apps. To aid development, SFDC is rolling out its Ajax Toolkit as part of its new APEX API 8 and pending APEX programming language. APEX enables server-side processing for benefits like real-time updates – previously relegated to forced polling of data – and more efficient data handling. The customizable interactions and business logic will help compete against companies that already posses scripting, like NetSuite.From what I’ve seen so far, Winter ’07 is going to be a hot one for Salesforce.com. This preview is only the tip of the iceberg — I’ll be plowing into its many additional enhancements before the spring thaw, so keep watch for the full review from the InfoWorld Test Center. Meanwhile, you can view a slide-show tour of new features in Winter ’07 Edition here. Salesforce.com Winter ’07 Enterprise Edition Available: Now Pricing: Starts at $125 per user per month Verdict: The Winter ’07 release offers plenty of updates that should put SFDC back in the spotlight and help it compete in the on-demand SFA space. A more flexible UI, improved workflow, and new server-side programming options greatly improve business opportunity. Technology Industry