Microsoft, Salesforce.com Form Strategic Alliance

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Salesforce.com Inc. (CRM) are forming a strategic partnership to connect the cloud-based business software vendor's platform to Microsoft Office and Windows.

Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Plans include applications that will allow customers to access Salesforce.com and run operations from devices using Windows. The companies expects a preview to be available this fall, with overall availability next year.

An application that allows new interoperability with Office 365 is also in the works.

Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella and Salesforce.com Chairman and CEO Marc Benioff plan to provide further details during a teleconference set for Thursday at 4:45 p.m. eastern time.

Salesforce.com shares rose 2.6% to $55.81 in recent after-hours trading.

Write to Tess Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com

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