Redmond is readying its 1.2 release, while broadening the channel for its CRM offering. There's been little news regarding Microsoft's first customer-relationship-management foray since the company launched the product in January. Until now. Redmond is prepping a minor upgrade, dubbed 1.2, of its MS CRM package to debut in the fourth quarter of this year. The 1.2 release is slated to include improvements to set-up; an enhanced Microsoft Outlook development environment; compatibility with Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003, Small Business Server 2003 and the forthcoming Microsoft Office System 2003; and broader reporting capabilities via Crystal Enterprise 9, among other features.

Until recently, Microsoft had told customers and partners that its next release of MS CRM would be a minor upgrade, consisting primarily of localized versions for non-English speaking countries. Microsoft refered to this release as 1.1. But now, Microsoft has opted to go straight to 1.2 and provide both the localization and new features at the same time, a company spokeswoman confirmed. Once Microsoft delivers 1.2, it will make good on the integration that it has promised between its CRM and other Microsoft Business Solution wares.