Microsoft Launches Cloud-based CRM Online

Microsoft has launched the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online cloud service which will be available in India with a Hindi interface. The company is offering a 30-day trial to both customers and partners.

Microsoft has also launched an aggressive program to convert Salesforce.com and Oracle customers to Dynamics CRM Online. Customers who switch over to CRM Online before June 30, 2011 will receive an incentive of up to $200 per user, which can be used for availing services such as migrating data or customizing the solution.

The cloud offering is the first to feature the latest 2011 version of Dynamics CRM and is available at a promotional price of $34 per user per month for the first 12 months to customers that sign up before June 30, 2011. The on-premise and the partner-hosted versions will be launched on February 28, globally.

“With cloud computing becoming increasingly popular, Indian businesses are re-evaluating their CRM systems to ensure that they are getting the best fit for their business and most value from their IT investment,” said Subhomoy Sengupta, Group Director, Microsoft Dynamics India. "I am confident that this offering will add immense value to businesses across functions like sales, services and marketing by providing simplicity and enabling innovation for customers."

Microsoft claims that globally more than 11,500 customers, including those that converted from competing solutions and 2,000 partners have used Dynamics CRM 2011 as part of the beta program.

The 2011 release offers flexible cloud development, Azure interoperability, and contextual SharePoint capabilities. It also features the new Dynamics Marketplace that allows customers and partners to find qualified service providers online.

VMware, Salesforce.com Unveil VMforce Java App Cloud

Salesforce.com and VMware are unveiling a partnership named VMforce under which the two will collaborate to bring Java applications to the cloud.

Under the new partnership, the two companies plan to jointly sell and support a new enterprise Java cloud, called VMforce, which VMware and Salesforce.com said will provide an open path to cloud computing.

VMforce takes advantage of VMware's Spring Java development framework. VMware acquired SpringSource, which spearheaded the Spring open source community, in August. SpringSource was a developer of applications based on open-source technologies, and the company leads a number of open-source communities.

VMware had been expected to use its Spring acquisition and other past and future acquisitions to expand its cloud computing platform. That is happening now with the VMforce program.

VMforce is slated to provide what the two companies call the first mission-critical deployment environment for enterprise Java apps in the cloud. Both companies will jointly deliver using Salesforce.com's trusted cloud platform, Force.com. The technology will run on VMware's vSphere virtualization platform.

"Enterprise Java developers, welcome to Cloud 2," said Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO, Salesforce.com, in a statement welcomed enterprise Java developers to Cloud 2.

"This fundamental shift incorporates cloud computing, real-time collaboration and mobile devices like the iPad to meet the new needs of the enterprise. Now, in partnership with VMware, we are delivering VMforce and bringing Java to Force.com so enterprise Java developers can create powerful new innovative Cloud 2 apps," Benioff said.

Companies are looking for ways to offer the benefits of cloud computing while utilizing existing resources, said Paul Maritz, CEO, VMware, in a statement.

"By creating a dramatically simplified solution for modern application development, VMforce is a significant step forward in offering our customers a path that bridges existing internal investments with the resources and flexibility of the cloud," Maritz said.

VMforce is currently scheduled to be available in developer preview sometime this year, and pricing has yet to be announced.