Microsoft to Roll out Wave of Native Mobile Apps for Its CRM Software - millersathimpiou

Microsoft is gearing up to release a phalanx of endemic movable applications for its CRM software program, with clients aimed at BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, iOS, and Android 2.2 and higher devices, the company announced Monday.

The release, which is scheduled for the forward fourth part as part of Microsoft's regular CRM (customer human relationship management) service update, will besides rest on existing web browser plunk fo with Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Safari, running on Macs, iPads and Windows PCs.

In the future the native mobile applications will personify updated simultaneously, merely features and functions whitethorn vary depending on the relational capabilities available along all weapons platform, aforesaid Craig Dewar, director, Kinetics CRM.

"We'Ra doing as much as we can on each platform, and non choosing to do the last common denominator approach," he said. "We'ray optimizing for the device. You chose that device, and we should light it up as practically atomic number 3 assertable."

The new CRM mobile capabilities as wel include a hosted-server component that provides management and security, including the power to remotely wipe devices of feisty information should they become compromised. IT administrators wish also be able to "mobilize" all of their CRM customizations without having to atomic number 75-code them, Dewar said.

Each native applications programme volition allow for offline utilisation and data synchronization with online systems, according to a statement.

Microsoft is charging US$30 per user per month for the mobile servicing, with each subscription allowed up to trey devices. IT is a strictly user-based pricing model, with No separate fee for the hosted-server tools.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's close-set CRM competitor Salesforce.com offers a Lite waterborne application at no charge, with the full-featured adaptation purchasable at no additional cost for Unlimited Edition subscribers but $50 per exploiter per month for Professional and Enterprise edition customers.

While other CRM vendors, including Salesforce.com, have moved quickly to embrace HTML5 for seaborne in hopes of writing a concentrated robust covering that will run on sextuple platforms, Microsoft is taking a more studied pace.

"We're watching HTML5 same closely, we're working on that," Dewar said. "It's a selfsame profound evolution engineering science. But our focus is to provide the best possible experience on endemic devices today." Microsoft will likely do more with HTML5 upon the arrival of Windows 8, which will provide ample support for it, he added.

Some other have planned for the coming service update, which will apply to some the on-premises and online versions of the software, is Activity Feeds, which provides users with a familiar Chirrup and Facebook-ilk stream of updates on data in the CRM system.

Microsoft is likewise provision to add new BI (business intelligence) capabilities to the connected-premises version, which are based on the Power View visualization technology in SQL Server 2022. Those capabilities leave become available in the online version terminated time, Dewar said.

Chris Kanaracus covers enterprise software and general applied science breakage news for The IDG News Service. Chris's netmail address is Chris_Kanaracus@idg.com