Microsoft has announced that it will debut a multitenant CRM offering to the partner community via the company's Technology Adoption Program (TAP). The next release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM code-named Titan will deliver an advanced multitenant architecture. Moreover, on-premise deployments and software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployments through Microsoft hosting partners and through the forthcoming Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM service will rely on a single code base.

Titan is the next step Microsoft has taken in the evolution of the Dynamics CRM 3.0 product. Titan is designed to provide an immediately accessible upgrade path for Microsoft's on-premise and SaaS customers, as well as to offer the two upgrade alternatives and CRM capabilities.

"The partner TAP program for 'Titan' is another milestone in our strategy to deliver the power of choice to customers," said Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. "Our partners are getting an in-depth look at the power and flexibility of the upcoming release, as well as the terrific upgrade path that it will provide to current customers. With early access to the new release, our partners can develop common offerings that span the deployment options: on-premise, partner-hosted or Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM."

"Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM gives us another way to address our customers' needs," said Jason Hunt, chief technology officer, Invoke Systems. "The ability to write applications once on Live CRM and then run them anywhere allows us to bring vertical CRM solutions to our customers quickly and easily. The choice in deployment models allows us to keep our focus where it should be - on delivering the right CRM solution for each customer."

Microsoft has scheduled the availability of the "Titan" release of Microsoft CRM and the new Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM service in mid-2007. Initially, Titan will debut in North America, following which it will be expanded worldwide. Microsoft additionally informed that the 300 partners included in the Titan TAP program in the first quarter of 2007 will grow to more than 1,000 over the second quarter.