Convergence: Announcements at the Show

The whole press release, including some useful information on the new features in AX 2009 (the latest update of AX, announced today and obtusely "code-named" AX 5.0), which should arrive by the end of June, is here. There's also "news" about how Microsoft designed some of its "role-tailored" Dynamics interfaces by using research conducted with something called the IT University of Copenhagen -- what, we wonder, is the school's mascot? -- on how users respond emotionally to software screens.

Probably the biggest news for partners is that EDS will offer Dynamics CRM to its customers. Ronald A. Rittenmeyer, chairman, president and CEO (is there anything this guy doesn't do?) of EDS, showed up onstage with Steve Ballmer this morning to discuss the announcement.

"We see the entire Dynamics thing as definitely an enterprise-grade solution. CRM is something we see as our fabric," said Rittenmeyer, chairman, president, CEO and, apparently, tailor. The titled one also said that EDS could train and deploy as many as 300 Dynamics consultants in the next several years.

For his part, Ballmer used the EDS deal to take a shot at rival IBM: "None of their product lines today is that strong. IBM is really more of an enterprise services player that really doesn't love our software very much. That's why we love EDS a lot," Ballmer cackled.

Microsoft also has some SaaS-y additions to its Dynamics suites, including online payment, "marketplace" (think integration with eBay) and keyword marketing services. Plus, not so much on the SaaS-y side, there's a new set of tools to help users of Intuit's QuickBooks move to Dynamics GP.

Posted by Lee Pender on March 12, 2008 at 11:54 AM