News

Microsoft Touts Hybrid Model for Dynamics

Microsoft Corp. wants to sell smaller businesses on the idea that its products can offer the traditional benefits of desktop computer software while taking advantage of growing Web-based tools.

At a Microsoft-sponsored conference in Dallas this week, the Redmond company plans to promote ways that Dynamics, its specialized applications aimed at small- and mid-sized businesses, can incorporate Web-based applications to quickly get information.

For example, an accountant who is using a Dynamics product with an Excel spreadsheet from Microsoft's Office suite could incorporate data from a supplier via an RSS feed, technology that immediately notifies a user when new content has been added to a Web site.

"We're adding this third piece, which is the integration of the online community and online services," said James Utzschneider, general manager of marketing for the Dynamics product line.

Microsoft is facing intense competition from companies such as Salesforce.com Inc., which provide specialized business software over the Internet. Such products could potentially threaten Microsoft's desktop PC applications.

Microsoft has pledged to offer more Web-based products of its own, while simultaneously beefing up ways in which its desktop products work with online applications.

Utzschneider said Microsoft believes some companies will want desktop applications, while others will want to incorporate more Web-based applications down the road.

"We truly and deeply believe that it will be a hybrid model," he said.

Featured

  • Microsoft Offers Support Extensions for Exchange 2016 and 2019

    Microsoft has introduced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for on-premises Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a crucial safety cushion as both versions near their Oct. 14, 2025 end-of-support date.

  • An image of planes flying around a globe

    2025 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

    Here's your guide to all the IT training sessions, partner meet-ups and annual Microsoft conferences you won't want to miss.

  • Notebook

    Microsoft Centers AI, Security and Partner Dogfooding at MCAPS

    Microsoft's second annual MCAPS for Partners event took place Tuesday, delivering a volley of updates and directives for its partners for fiscal 2026.

  • Microsoft Layoffs: AI Is the Obvious Elephant in the Room

    As Microsoft doubles down on an $80 billion bet on AI this fiscal year, its workforce reductions are drawing scrutiny over whether AI's ascent is quietly reshaping its human capital strategy, even as official messaging avoids drawing a direct line.