Microsoft releases an updated test version of its CRM Live service
Microsoft is continuing to test its Microsoft-hosted CRM product, Dynamics CRM Live, and delivered on January 9 an updated "early access" version of the service, which it is offering to more customers and partners.
According to a posting on the Dynamics CRM Team Blog:
"Beginning today, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Live has officially reached our second early-access release and is expanding access for Microsoft customers and partners located in the United States and Canada."
Customers who want in on the test program are obligated to go through Microsoft-approved Dynamics CRM resellers. For now, only the "Professional" version of the service is available to testers. The "Professional Pro" version also will be available in the spring of 2008.
Professional CRM Live users won't be charged a subscription fee during the early access period, according to Microsoft's terms and conditions; the $39 per month promotional-price fee kicks in starting in spring 2008, once the "early access" period ends. The Professional Pro version, which includes offline database synchronization and up to 20 GB of storage, is priced at $59 per month.
Microsoft is touting the familiar Microsoft Office interface, as well as the tight integration with Microsoft Office, as among the main selling points of CRM Live.
Microsoft released to manufacturing its CRM 4.0 "Titan" codebase, upon which CRM Live is built, in December 2007. The company has begun delivering CRM 4.0 to customers who want to install the software on-premise, or who want it hosted by Microsoft partners