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Dynamics CRM 'Titan' Goes to TAP Partners

Microsoft announced this week it is previewing the next major release of its Dynamics CRM product, which is codenamed "Titan," with new features to help enable software-as-a-service (SaaS) scenarios.

The preview is going out to a range of partners through the company's Technology Adoption Program (TAP).

The new version introduces a multitenant architecture, meaning that one application can be used to serve users from different companies, reducing the number of instances of the application that needs to be running, while at the same time protecting individual customers' data from unauthorized access.

Additionally, Titan uses a single code base to support both on-premise deployments as well as SaaS deployments through hosting partners and through the upcoming Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM service, according to company statements.

Titan is an evolution of Dynamics CRM 3.0 product, which shipped in December 2005. (See "Microsoft Ships CRM 3.0 on Schedule," Dec. 6, 2005.) The upgrade is designed to provide the ability to choose on-premise or SaaS deployments, and to access CRM capabilities from within Microsoft Office Outlook, through a Web browser, and from mobile devices.

Titan was first described by company officials at Microsoft's annual Worldwide Partner Conference in Boston last July. (See "Dynamics CRM Live Made Channel-Ready," July 11, 2006.)

The Titan TAP program will initially involve about 300 partners during the first quarter of 2007, and will expand to include more than 1,000 partners during the second quarter, the company said.

Titan is currently scheduled for release along with the new Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM service in mid-2007. The Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM service will initially be available in North America; plans for international expansion of the service will be announced at a later time.

About the Author

Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.

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