Microsoft unveiled the long-awaited tactical details of its CRM Live service today, announcing per-month pricing that undercuts rivals Salesforce.com and Siebel CRM OnDemand and revealing its plans to give partners a recurring 10 percent margin on subscription fees for all customers they refer. But the company downplayed one key piece of news that may spook partners: Customers will be able to buy CRM Live directly from Microsoft, with no partner involvement.
Microsoft is in the process of introducing a CRM Live early adopter preview program, to which access will only be opened to customers working with select channel partners. But when CRM Live formally launches for general availability in the first half of 2008, it will be available directly.
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