Dynamics CRM Codename 'CRM5' CTP3 Released

Selected testers are now able to access the latest development milestone of the next generation of Microsoft customer relationship management solutions. According to statistics released by the Redmond company, there are already over 400 select partners that have been tapped for the third Community Technology Preview program, of the next generation of Dynamics CRM. Codename “CRM5,” the future iteration of Dynamics CRM will be offered to customers in the second half of 2010, although the company did not reveal a specific GA deadline.

“With this next version, Microsoft is continuing to drive new levels of user productivity and collaboration, giving customers deep core CRM capabilities, low total cost of ownership, and fast and easy deployment options for their CRM applications,” Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, said.

The promise from the Redmond company is that the Dynamics CRM Codename “CRM5” CTP3 program will be expanded in the coming months to include additional participants on top of the 400 partners already engaged in testing. With the latest CTP Build, Microsoft is focusing mainly on software developers that have an already established partner base of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Essentially, the software giant is offering third-parties that have been leveraging Microsoft CRM as a platform the chance to start early development and testing, designed to make sure that their solutions will integrate seamlessly with the new release.

“We see Microsoft Dynamics CRM driving innovation and focus in the customer relationship management (CRM) marketplace. It continues to raise the bar on ease of use, and delivers real and measurable value to our customers,” Aziz Virani, executive vice president of the Avanade Technology Solutions Group, noted. “This next generation of the product provides us with more opportunities to create innovative solutions for our customers.”

After it will become generally available in the second half of this year, customers will be able to take advantage of Dynamics CRM Codename “CRM5” as not only an online service, but also as on-premise software. Microsoft plans to allow third-parties to also deliver partner-hosted offerings.

“The CTP software is available as on-premises software, as well as through pre-release versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online running in datacenters in North America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia Pacific (APAC). The availability in international datacenters is in preparation for the global expansion of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online service beyond the U.S. and Canada today and into EMEA, APAC and Latin America,” the company said.