New Microsoft Program for Early-Stage Companies Includes Major Role for Dynamics CRM

Microsoft appears to have big plans for small businesses to use Dynamics CRM.

Its intentions for Dynamics CRM became know with announcement this week of its BizSpark program, designed to target early stage software startups with a variety of company resources, including access to Microsoft platform software and development tools with no upfront costs.

Dynamics CRM will be offered as a part of this platform, although Microsoft has not yet indicated when it will become available.  The inclusion of Dynamics CRM into this broad platform services program aimed at early stage companies indicates Microsoft's interest in pushing Dynamics CRM as a mainstay for small businesses.  Dynamics CRM is the only pure business software listed as part of the program other than the broader SharePoint Portal Server.

As part of BizSpark, Microsoft is providing startups with a three-year Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Professional subscription, which makes available for download a broad set of development tools needed to build, test and maintain an application on the Microsoft platform, including Microsoft Visual Studio and the Microsoft .NET Framework. Through MSDN, BizSpark also provides professional support services and expert information resources.

For startups building hosted software, BizSpark includes production licenses for application hosting and management servers, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server, BizTalk Server and Systems Center, with Microsoft Dynamics CRM to be added soon. The program also will provide a worldwide network of hosting partners, offering discounted hosting services to startups that would like to take their business or product online using their BizSpark licenses.

BizSpark is being offered to startups through Microsoft Network Partners, a group of VCs, consultants, academic institutions, and others; the program is targeted at ...