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Tim P via OfficeKB.com
Many wishful BCM users who have lamented over various contact management
needs comparisons in this newsgroup (including myself) may be pleased to know
of an upcoming 4th quarter 2005 release of Microsoft CRM v3.0. Of particular
note will be a small business edition of this that may provide an affordable
target to gap a lot of the functional limitations of the current BCM add in.
Also discussed are possible off-site web hosted licensing options that would
involve a monthly subscription fee (like Salesforce.com). This could soften
both the sofware and hardware investment issue that smaller users like myself
have concern over. While I have long wished for a fuller featured and
customizable BCM, I would be very attracted to the alternative option of
moving to the more robust Microsoft CRM if a starter transitional version
becomes available and is priced more affordably than previous offerings.
Maybe Microsoft will get this right and many of these posts about BCM
limitations will become history. I am hopeful.
I have copied an excerpt from a recent press release about this below.
~PRESS RELEASE EXCERPT:
“Every business — whether large or small — needs a fast, flexible and
affordable way to manage and grow their relationships with current and
prospective customers,” said Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft CRM.
“Microsoft CRM 3.0 provides exactly what our customers and partners need: a
simple user experience based on Office and Outlook, a flexible CRM platform
that easily adapts to fit each business, and fast implementations that can
result in a low TCO. The feedback on this release from customers, partners
and industry analysts has been tremendous, and with Microsoft CRM 3.0 we can
help even more companies around the world reach their business goals.”
*New Subscription-Based Licensing for Hosted Deployments:
With the release of Microsoft CRM 3.0, Microsoft will introduce new
subscription-based licensing for customers that prefer a hosted offering,
furthering the company’s commitment to providing flexible and affordable CRM
in both on-site and hosted deployment models. Because the same code is used
in both models, customers can change their preferred deployment model from
hosted to on-site (or vice versa) as their business and IT needs change.
*New CRM Offering for Small Businesses:
With the release of Microsoft CRM 3.0, Microsoft will introduce a Small
Business Edition (SBE) designed for small businesses that use Windows Small
Business Server 2003 Premium Edition (SBS 2003). The new version will deliver
a simplified installation and an easy migration path from Microsoft Office
Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager, with the familiarity of Microsoft
Office and Microsoft Outlook. Pricing will be announced closer to
availability.
-THP
needs comparisons in this newsgroup (including myself) may be pleased to know
of an upcoming 4th quarter 2005 release of Microsoft CRM v3.0. Of particular
note will be a small business edition of this that may provide an affordable
target to gap a lot of the functional limitations of the current BCM add in.
Also discussed are possible off-site web hosted licensing options that would
involve a monthly subscription fee (like Salesforce.com). This could soften
both the sofware and hardware investment issue that smaller users like myself
have concern over. While I have long wished for a fuller featured and
customizable BCM, I would be very attracted to the alternative option of
moving to the more robust Microsoft CRM if a starter transitional version
becomes available and is priced more affordably than previous offerings.
Maybe Microsoft will get this right and many of these posts about BCM
limitations will become history. I am hopeful.
I have copied an excerpt from a recent press release about this below.
~PRESS RELEASE EXCERPT:
“Every business — whether large or small — needs a fast, flexible and
affordable way to manage and grow their relationships with current and
prospective customers,” said Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft CRM.
“Microsoft CRM 3.0 provides exactly what our customers and partners need: a
simple user experience based on Office and Outlook, a flexible CRM platform
that easily adapts to fit each business, and fast implementations that can
result in a low TCO. The feedback on this release from customers, partners
and industry analysts has been tremendous, and with Microsoft CRM 3.0 we can
help even more companies around the world reach their business goals.”
*New Subscription-Based Licensing for Hosted Deployments:
With the release of Microsoft CRM 3.0, Microsoft will introduce new
subscription-based licensing for customers that prefer a hosted offering,
furthering the company’s commitment to providing flexible and affordable CRM
in both on-site and hosted deployment models. Because the same code is used
in both models, customers can change their preferred deployment model from
hosted to on-site (or vice versa) as their business and IT needs change.
*New CRM Offering for Small Businesses:
With the release of Microsoft CRM 3.0, Microsoft will introduce a Small
Business Edition (SBE) designed for small businesses that use Windows Small
Business Server 2003 Premium Edition (SBS 2003). The new version will deliver
a simplified installation and an easy migration path from Microsoft Office
Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager, with the familiarity of Microsoft
Office and Microsoft Outlook. Pricing will be announced closer to
availability.
-THP