Microsoft is promoting the slow moving Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 application released at the end of 2005 as a new opportunity for business management. Also representatives of the Redmond based company claim that the system will be one of Microsoft's main cash earners, even if it is not expected to reach the level of success of the Office suite. To this point, according to official data there are 7,000 CRM customer accounts and 180,000 CRM users worldwide.

"CRM could easily be the next billion dollar business for Microsoft," said Margo Day, a regional vice president who just moved to that role from her post as vice president of the U.S. Partner Group.

A plus for the application is the way that the management of CRM and Outlook integration has been handled, bringing the navigation efforts down to a minimum on the part of the users. Also a definite plus is the interface and its similitude with Outlook translating into easy workflow and intuitive use.

As of now Microsoft runs 10 pilots of Dynamics CRM that it tests internally, and the Redmond Company readies itself to pitch the application outside of the initial target market of Small to Medium sized Businesses. "In July at our own sales conference, my pitch is CRM everywhere, not just departments. And don't worry about the scale of the customer," said Simon Witts, Microsoft corporate vice president of enterprise and partners.