Sugar CRM is opening its platform for better third-party web integration with LinkedIn, Jigsaw and Hoovers through a service they are calling Cloud Connects. The service is part of a broad upgrade launched today that includes features similar to Salesforce.com’s newest offerings. New features include social feeds that provide statuses, alerts and notifications similar to the functionality found in social networks such as Facebook. An improved mobile service gives users a more streamlined experience when out on the road. Sponsor Sugar CRM is a competitor to Salesforce.com , which launched Salesforce Chatter last month. Salesforce Chatter is a real-time, social network for the enterprise that integrates with third-party applications. The new features in Sugar CRM 5.5 are by no means groundbreaking, as a number of companies offer varying flavors of real-time technologies and third-party integrations. But Sugar’s features do offer a comprehensive upgrade that give it more leverage in the market. Cloud Connectors may be the most significant upgrade. It uses web services to connect third-party services such as LinkedIn, which allows users to receive the most up-to-date account and lead information. It reminds us of the new cloud service launched by MindTouch , which