Microsoft Dynamics CRM Q2 2012 Service Update Will Add Mobile Platform, Cross-Browser Support

Keeping to its new, faster release cadence for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft announced today its plans for a Q2 2012 service update for Dynamics CRM that will feature a new set of mobile and tablet applications running on a new cloud service.  Called Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile, the service update will also add cross-browser compatibility, enhancements to CRM activity feeds, use of SQL Server 2012's Power View capabilities, and compliance with more industry and geographic standards.

With this service update, Microsoft is releasing new native device applications for Dynamics CRM 2011 on Windows Phone 7, iPhone, iPad, Android, and BlackBerry. The apps are coupled with a new cloud service (not on Windows Azure) to manage the provisioning and administration of mobile access.

The new mobile apps and service will cost $30 per user and are designed to surface all standard Dynamics CRM capabilities.

Microsoft feels it will differentiate itself with this mobile offering in several ways.  First, the mobile solution is fully supported by Microsoft.  Mobile solution provider CWR Mobility worked as a development partner to accelerate the delivery of the apps but Microsoft owns all aspects of the product.  Second, Microsoft believes that the freedom to assign multiple (up to three) devices to each user, such as a sales rep with both a phone and an iPad enhances the value. The third benefit is the broad range of devices supported - something they say that Oracle, Salesforce, and other major CRM players can't match now with their own solutions.

And Microsoft says it intends to utilize the native capabilities of the device platforms to tailor the respective apps.  One example might be to let Android's dialer ...