Microsoft pushes the cloud with Dynamics CRM Online

Microsoft has introduced a new version of its Dynamics CRM software, including a cloud-based version of the tool available for the first time to customers outside North America.

Available immediately in 40 countries including the UK, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is claimed to offer new levels of productivity to sales, service and marketing organisations.

The on-premise version, Dynamics CRM 2011, will be globally available from 28 February, along with partner-hosted options, according to the firm.

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer unveiled the new release, saying that it redefined productivity by offering an industry-leading product that fully embraces the cloud.

"This is the first time we've made a release in the cloud before we have done so in the server version, and I think that really reflects the push by Microsoft into the cloud," he said.

Previous versions of Dynamics CRM largely focused on the on-premise model, in contrast to CRM providers such as Salesforce.com which have long made their products available online as software-as-a-service.

Now, however, Microsoft is casting itself as the CRM provider offering customers a real choice of delivery methods.

"Microsoft Dynamics CRM is one of the few solutions in the market that enables customers to get CRM how it best fits them, whether on-premises, on demand in the cloud, or a combination of both," said Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft's Dynamics CRM Product Management Group.

The new version is said to offer a more familiar experience via a next-generation native client that looks and feels like Outlook, in addition to browser and mobile access.

It also features guided process dialogues, inline business intelligence for performance and goal management, and real-time dashboards showing the most up-to-date information.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is currently available at a promotional price of £22.75 per user per month for the first year of service, but customers must sign up before 30 June.

A free trial is available at crm.dynamics.com.