Microsoft adds Cortana support to Dynamics CRM 2015

Microsoft has added, as expected, support for Cortana to its latest version of its Dynamics CRM offering.

Dynamics CRM 2015, which Microsoft officials announced on November 4 will be generally available to all customers in December 2014, will be able to use the Cortana digital personal assistant technology that's currently part of Windows Phone 8.1.

Microsoft officials announced in September of this year that Dynamics CRM 2015, codenamed "Vega," would be available in the fourth quarter of 2014. Alongside CRM 2015, Microsoft also plans to make available updates to its Dynamics Marketing and Social Listening social analytics components.

At the highest level, the goal of CRM 2015, which will be available simultaneously in both on-premises and online forms, is to break down silos between sales and marketing.

With Cortana, Dynamics CRM 2015 users will be able set up meetings and reminders, search for contacts, accounts and activities, view customer lists and create new customer records using voice commands. Microsoft also is building Cortana into Windows 10, although Cortana support is not yet enabled in the Windows 10 technical preview.

Microsoft announced the latest on Dynamics CRM 2015 at its Convergence 2014 Europe event in Barcelona today. Company officials also announced at the kick-off keynote there a new partnership with Thunderhead.com to make Dynamics CRM and Thunderhead.com's ONE Engagement hub interoperable.