Microsoft Unveils Updates to Dynamics CRM Online

Microsoft Business Division President Stephen Elop and Corporate VP of Microsoft Business Solutions Kirill Tatarinov kicked off the Convergence 2010 conference in Atlanta by showing off the features that Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online will be getting when the May 2010 update releases – including integration with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. Here’s the scoop.

The May 2010 update brings all kinds of features that a Microsoft reseller should find handy, says the press release: expanded language support and new Portal “accelerators” to extend your CRM to outside constituents, including Event Management and eService and Partner Relationship Management. It also brings new developer tools to the table, including connectors for other applications and services like Windows Azure.

Most interesting is that integration with Microsoft Dynamics GP, the Redmond giant’s ERP solution, and it’s coming to both the on-premises and cloud versions of Dynamics CRM. Microsoft is so confident in said integration that they’re offering Dynamics CRM Online licenses to Dynamics GP customers at a promotional price of $19/user/month.

The unveiling also comes with the news that Microsoft is launching their online CRM product in 32 international markets by the end of the year.

It’s an aggressive move on Microsoft’s part. The software giant has been trying to lure away customers from competitors like NetSuite, and when financial incentives don’t work, it’s clear Microsoft is just going to try to pull customers into their ecosystem with the promise of easy integration.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Web Host Summit kicks off this week in Bellevue, Wash. At that event, Microsoft is striving to keep Web hosts happy even as the software giant continues to promote its own BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) SaaS platform for customers and resellers.

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