database.com force.com and salesforce.com

Question

I am currently trying to learn salesforce.

Following is my understanding(correct me if i am wrong)

Database.com

• Database as a service.
• Uses oracle under the hood.
• Provides REST API service to interact with database.

Force.com

• Platform as a service.
• Provides metadata layer(Apex language,tool to edit/debug code,visualforce page etc.)
• Provides default metadata for database.com field types.
• Uses Database.com under the hood(for storing data and metadata).

Salesforce.com

• Software as a service.
• Uses Force.com under the hood.
• Provides few data model (i.e.schema) eg:-sales,marketing.
• Provides a framework(mainly UI) to create/configure various parameters of metadata and data model.

Question

I believe database.com, force.com and salesforce.com are 3 different services. But on searching I am always reaching to salesforce CRM.Is it possible to use Database.com or Force.com alone i.e. without salesforce CRM?

Thank you!

Answer 1

I believe the database is currently going by the name of Force.com Database, while database.com is the name of one of the salesforce editions (products). I haven't heard much about database.com recently, and most of the links to database.com seem to be redirected, so it seems like they are trying to phase it out.