The new release targets value-added resellers and business partners that would use it to deliver a hosted offering to end users, who could access the software via a Web browser or an Outlook client.

Since February, IT consultancy CBH Inc. in Irvine, Calif., has been a hosted CRM customer of Microsoft partner Streamline Solutions in Newport Beach, Calif.

Migrating to a hosted version of Dynamics CRM 3.0 for sales force automation last month was a "no-brainer," said Myron Weber, CBH's chief technology officer.

The application was deployed quickly, with reduced upfront costs and the requisite service levels, he said.

Prior to the shift, CBH used GoldMine, now a part of FrontRange Solutions Inc. "The biggest factor [for the switch] was that 3.0 integrates into our other applications," which include Microsoft's Solomon (now SL) ERP suite and SharePoint portal, Weber said.