Microsoft to upgrade Dynamics CRM with mobile client

Microsoft Australia's Dynamics Business director Thomas Gudman told CRN the new mobile client can be used across any operating system on any device.

A single mobile client license is valid across three devices and costs $US30 (A$29), either as an add-on to an existing CRM or for separate purchase. Global pricing of CRM Online is around $A54.

The updated CRM will also offer multi-browser functionality, social media integration and business intelligence analytics, free of charge.

Microsoft launched a beta version of the upgrade late last year.

Twenty customers ran the beta worldwide, including two in Asia-Pacific and one in Australia.

Gudman declined to identify those customers, but said 100 per cent of beta users would likely adopt the updated product.

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He highlighted Australia's Department of Education as an existing Dynamics CRM customer, after it last year deployed Dynamics CRM to over 6000 staff in Australia and overseas.

Dynamics CRM and Microsoft's cloud-based CRM Online are exclusively sold through Microsoft's 250 business applications partners locally.

Taps cloud for growth

Dynamics CRM has traditionally struggled in Australia against Salesforce.com's cloud-based offering. But Microsoft believes its recently-released cloud CRM will help edge it closer to its main rival.

Gudman said 60 per cent of all new Dynamics CRM customers locally were opting for the online version, contributing to a five per cent growth in local CRM Online sales.

Globally, he said CRM Online sales were up 30 per cent.

"We believe the message and power of choice will land strongly," Gudman said.

"There are no hidden costs, it's a user-friendly interface, and the total cost of ownership is lower."

Microsoft's APAC marketing director Claus Minet attributed local interest to Australians being more "cloud ready".

"There's a lot of buzz around cloud, and local companies are listening to it," he said. "There's also a broader variety of choices here."