Microsoft Expanding Mobile Capabilities Of Dynamics CRM

The next release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM will offer expanded mobile capabilities that will allow users to access the customer relationship management application from their iPad, iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7 devices, Microsoft said Monday.

The new version of the Microsoft application, slated for release in the second quarter, also will provide new social networking functionality and will support a range of Web browsers beyond Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

Microsoft describes the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile as a cloud-based, cross-platform, native mobile client service that mobile device owners can use to access the Dynamics CRM application to sync up their own sales pipeline information.

"In today's hyper-connected world, customers need to be able to access their business-critical data on the device of their choice from wherever they are," said Dennis Michalis, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, in a statement.

Microsoft customers and channel partners also will be able to use the vendor's xRM application development framework to connect their Dynamics CRM extensions to the new Dynamics CRM Mobile.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile will carry a price tag of $30 per user, per month and will support up to three devices per user.

In addition to supporting Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, for the first time the new release of Dynamics CRM will support Google Chrome (on PCs), Mozilla Firefox (on PCs and Macintosh computers) and Apple Safari (on PCs, Macs and iPad devices).

The release's new social capabilities include activity feeds with like/unlike status updates, improved status filtering, and the ability to view all statuses relating to a particular record view.