Sage Acquires Corum's Mobile CRM Arm

Terms of the deal, completed through Sage's Canadian subsidiary, weren't disclosed. U.K.-based Sage said Corum's mobile CRM technology is integrated with Sage CRM SalesLogix and will be available for all Sage CRM, SageCRM.com and ACT customers.

A privately held software consulting and development firm, Corum has been developing add-on solutions for Sage CRM SalesLogix since 1997, according to Sage. Corum's mobile platform enables customers to design, build, deploy and manage mobile applications, including salesforce automation. It supports Reserch In motion's BlackBerry, Microsoft Windows Mobile Platform and Palm devices that use Windows mobile.

One Sage partner noted that the Corum deal follows Salesforce.com's purchase of Sendia's mobile CRM platform last spring and SAP's acquisition of Praxis Software Solutions.

"Apparently, continued strengthening of CRM is a focal point for all the midmarket accounting vendors," said Bob LaGarde, chairman of LaGarde StoreFront, a Sage ISV that offers integrated solutions for Microsoft Great Plains and Navision, Sage MAS 90/200/500 and ACCPAC and SAP BusinessOne.

SalesForce.com launched its AppExchange Mobile platform last April after its $15 million acquisition of Sendia. SAP's deal with Praxis enabled it to provide e-commerce and Web-based CRM capabilities for Business One.