Microsoft’s Dynamics CRM 4.0, code-named Titan, has been released for manufacturing and will available in the customer-hosted or Microsoft-hosted version.

An excerpt from ZDNet:

According to the Microsoft East Region CRM blog, it will take Microsoft a couple of weeks for the final bits to hit the download sites. The “U.S. launch parties” for customers for the product are starting in March, according to Microsoft CRM Specialist Ben Vollmer’s post.

Microsoft is making the CRM 4.0 bits available in several ways: As a Microsoft-hosted “CRM Live” service; as a partner-hosted service; and in an on-premise form for customers who want to host/run the product themselves. Microsoft committed to getting the partner-hosted and on-premise options available in the fourth quarter of this year.

Microsoft is positioning its CRM software as software with a service business model. A notable feature in CRM 4.0 is the multitenant architecture, which enables hosting of multiple customers. The server will also support 25 different languages and multiple currencies.

Microsoft is getting into the groove to challenge the likes of SalesForce.com.

More information:

Microsoft CRM 4.0 Ushers in a New Era (RedDevNews)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Ready for Download (InternetNews)