We’ll never have a great Microsoft CRM Mobile client?

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We’ll never have a great Microsoft CRM Mobile client?

Often, during our CRM demos and presentations, we receive questions like "has the Microsoft CRM a good mobile client for Pocket PC, able to satisfy our business?". The answer to this question is always the same story:

	CRM Mobile	CRM Mobile Express
Data Access	Online or Offline	Online
Function	Sales Force Automation	Full CRM functionality (including Sales, Marketing, Customer Services, custom functions)
Customization Ability	Field-only within Accounts, Contacts and Opportunities	Full field, standard and custom entities; source code available
Mobile Devices Supported	Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC	Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC Microsoft Windows Mobile Smartphone Palm-powered Handheld RIM Blackberry Any Mobile Web Device
Support	Supported by Microsoft	Available through Microsoft Partners
Supported Languages	English, French, German, Spanish	All supported Microsoft CRM languages

The actual choices available from Microsoft are only these and the main problem that we encounter during the business process with customers that have mobility needs essentially is: Microsoft doesn't have a CRM mobile client (for Pocket PC) that can work online and offline, customizable and able to work with all the CRM standard and custom entities. :(

Yesterday I had a nice talk with a friend inside Microsoft Italy (a CRM Technology Specialist) and he said me that Microsoft is not planning to develop a new Pocket PC CRM client or to extend the actual clients. The CRM Mobile client is a "dead project", while the CRM Mobile Express (released as open source) we'll not be extended by Microsoft and we'll never have the feature to work offline.

I think this is not a great news. Why Microsoft don't believe in a mobile CRM user? We can see that too many customer are asking these features and expecially the offline usage with a Pocket PC (there are many customers that wants to check their CRM data from an airplane, a customer's warehouse or at office etc.).

Many Microsoft competitors have features like this and I think that Microsoft, in order to gain market, must work on this field. I know that there are some interesting third-party applications, but (as you can imagine) if you have a big CRM implementation with many custom features, you need to have the power of totally customize the mobile solution as you want.

Knowing that Microsoft don't believe on this opportunity makes me worried…

Print | posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 4:54 PM

Comments on this post

# re: We’ll never have a great Microsoft CRM Mobile client?

Hi Stefano,

Take a look at this application: http://www.cwrmobility.com/Products/CWRMobilitysCRM30Mobile/tabid/73/Default.aspx

It's possible to work online and offline and customizations are also possible!

Maarten

Left by Maarten Dominicus on May 18, 2007 9:10 AM

# re: We’ll never have a great Microsoft CRM Mobile client?

Hi Stefano,

I feel your pain and that's why we developed a Mobile CRM solution that does everything you ask for! :)

Maarten already recommended our solution (thanks Maarten!).

I think we combine the best of both Microsoft solutions in our solution, and more.

Just contact me if you want some more information.

Jeffry

Left by Jeffry van de Vuurst on May 18, 2007 2:43 PM

# re: We’ll never have a great Microsoft CRM Mobile client?

Thanks a lot guys... My friend inside Microsoft Italy has just recommended me the CWR Mobile CRM product. I've checked your site and I think it's really interesting, exactly the product we need.
Is it customizable? If we have custome entities to satisfy a business process, can they be managed via the CRM Mobile client?
I think someone inside my company will contact you :)
Thanks a lot guys...

Left by Stefano Demiliani on May 18, 2007 3:45 PM

# re: We’ll never have a great Microsoft CRM Mobile client?

Hi Stefano,

Yes we do support custom entities. In fact, most of our clients use one or more custom entities on the mobile client.

We even support client-side callouts and custom controls, e.g. route navigation or signature controls, if you need a really customized solution!

Hope to hear from you soon :)

Left by Jeffry van de Vuurst on May 18, 2007 9:12 PM

# re: We’ll never have a great Microsoft CRM Mobile client?

Jeffry, our marketing department has contacted your group for a possible opportunity. We've just received your documentation about the product. Thanks.

Left by Stefano Demiliani on May 29, 2007 12:24 PM

# re: We’ll never have a great Microsoft CRM Mobile client?

Jeffry,

How can i configure correctly crm mobile express, i obtain this message error

Message: Exception of type 'System.Web.HttpUnhandledException' was thrown.
Stack trace: at System.Web.UI.Page.HandleError(Exception e) at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint) at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint) at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest() at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestWithNoAssert(HttpContext context) at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) at ASP.home_aspx.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) in c:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NET Files\root\d0a5e77d\98c9edf9\App_Web_ysx2ptq0.2.cs:line 0 at System.Web.HttpApplication.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() at System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously)

Left by Luis Gomez on Aug 07, 2007 4:54 PM

# re: We’ll never have a great Microsoft CRM Mobile client?

When you obtain this error?

Left by Stefano Demiliani on Aug 07, 2007 5:06 PM

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