Microsoft CRM: So Close, But Not Done Yet

The customer relationship management software "will shortly move to testing RC2" and the company will collect feedback from that beta drop, with plans now to release to manufacturing (RTM) after it has received and reviewed that feedback, a spokeswoman said via e-mail. The product is now expected to RTM in early 2003, she said.

The company does not expect this to delay a global Version 1.1. release planned for 2003, she said.

The news may come as a surprise to several testers of RC1, which was available as of early last week. Many thought the software was ready for primetime and expected the company to ship before the holidays, as it had planned. (See story.)

Microsoft CRM represents a huge effort by the company to bolster itself in business applications for small and midsize businesses. It has grouped together its Great Plains and Navision apps toward this end under the Microsoft Business Solutions organization headed by former Great Plains CEO Doug Burgum.

The company has long promised this application would be ready in this calendar year.