Q&A: Microsoft CRM 3.0 From Your Zune?!

Question: What are my options when deploying Microsoft CRM 3.0 to end users?

Answer: Many (and the list of options keeps growing!)

The Details...

While the question of client options always comes up, it's important to note that each user license of Microsoft CRM 3.0 includes four standard client deployment options:

- Web Client (assumes an always online or persistent connection to the Microsoft CRM database and is accessed via an Internet Explorer browser)
- Desktop Outlook Client (assumes an always online or persistent connection to the Microsoft CRM database but is accessed via Outlook)
- Laptop Outlook Client (relies on a local web server and data store to provide offline access to Microsoft CRM via Outlook)
- CRM Mobile Client (a .NET CF 2.0 and SQL CE 3.0 based thick client that works in both connected and disconnected mode from any Windows Mobile or SmartPhone)

In addition to the four options outlined above there are a number of alternatives for accessing Microsoft CRM data from other devices. A couple of these options are listed below:

- CRM Mobile Express (a FREE online only browser client developed by the gotdotnet community which allows users to view and edit Microsoft CRM data from any internet ready handheld device that has at least a 240x240 pixel screen)

- Mobile Access For Microsoft CRM (a proprietary thick client designed by TenDigits for accessing Microsoft CRM from Blackberry devices which works in connected and disconnected modes)

While Navint has had great success deploying most of the client types listed, for handheld deployments, we tend to favor gotdotnet's CRM Mobile Express over the Mobile Client developed by Microsoft.

Furthermore, for Blackberry lovers, TenDigits' Mobile Access product is second to none - especially because there is no separate customization interface (i.e., any customization that you make to your CRM environment automatically updates to the Blackberry).

But the fun doesn't end there! Just yesterday I received beta code from Philip Richardson for accessing Microsoft CRM data from my Zune!

Nice work Phil...

Perhaps a new tagline is in order?

Microsoft CRM 3.0 - How, When and Where You Want It!