Microsoft will release a new version of its CRM software around year-end. With the new version will come a special edition for small businesses, a subscription-based license for hosting services, and support for more languages, including Chinese and Arabic.

The software will come with two new modules: one to automate the management of direct marketing campaigns; and one to manage complex personnel and resource scheduling requests, the company says. The new version is a great leap forward in at least one other respect, as the company is moving directly from Version 1.2 and numbering the new Version 3.0.

One treat, coming up

The new version includes a treat for reseller partners: Microsoft says it will reduce the time and effort required to create tailored versions of the software for vertical markets, or to integrate it with other applications. Partners will be able to obtain the necessary software development kit for CRM 3.0 through the Microsoft Developer Network later this year.

Customers will be able to buy and run the CRM 3.0 tool in two ways: either as a packaged product they run themselves, or as a hosted service they pay for through the new subscription-based license. They'll be able to change their minds later, too, as the code for the hosted and on-site versions will be the same - only the license will change, Microsoft says.

The company hopes small businesses using Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition with Office Outlook 2003 and Business Contact Manager will upgrade to CRM 3.0 Small Business Edition (SBE). This will add the new features of the CRM suite while retaining the look and feel of the Outlook e-mail and workflow client, the company says. It will announce pricing for CRM 3.0 SBE nearer to the launch date.

Microsoft will release CRM 3.0 to current users in the fourth quarter, and sell it to new customers in the first quarter of next year, it said. The new version will add support for seven new languages, bringing the number supported to 23.

Also last week, Microsoft reiterated that it plans to ship its SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk Server 2006 products on Nov. 7, with launch events planned in 50 countries.

Sayer is a correspondent with the IDG News Service.