Microsoft partners approaching Titan

And now, Microsoft.

Microsoft Corporation today announced that it is previewing the next major release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM – code-named "Titan" – with business partners through the company’s Technology Adoption Program.

Titan introduces an advanced multi-tenant architecture, using a single code base to support on-premise deployments and software-as-a-service deployments through hosting partners and through the (coming soon!) Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM service.

Titan promises “a smooth upgrade path for existing on-premise and SaaS customers.” The Titan upgrade is part of Microsoft’s new party line, a long-term strategy that would give customers a choice between on-premise or SaaS deployments and the possibility to access CRM capabilities within Microsoft Office Outlook, through a web browser, and from a broad range of mobile devices.

The Titan TAP program includes approximately 300 partners in the first quarter of 2007, and will be enlarged to over 1,000 partners in the second quarter of the year. Partners in the Titan TAP program will be building vertical applications, SaaS mash-ups, integration connectors and other extensions.

The Titan release of Microsoft CRM and the new Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM service are planned for a mid-2007 release. 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.