Some interesting news on release dates for CRM 5.0.

 

I was lucky enough to have spoken with Brad Wilson (GM MBS) today; I was particularly interested in finding out about release dates etc for CRM version 5.0 as well as what functionality has been adopted by Microsoft. It appears as though the TAP (Technology Adoption Program) for CRM 5.0 will be open for partners in about 6 months time around Oct, Nov 09. With release for version 5.0 in the second half of 2010. This will give partners 12 months to get up to speed with the new features.

 

As far as features to be adopted in the new release its always hard to pin point so far out from the release date but after having a little look around I found that Simon Hutson seems to have a good handle and a great blog, so if you need to see some screen shots and a great explanation of things to come check it out here: http://blogs.msdn.com/ukcrm/archive/2008/11/10/what-s-new-in-crm5.aspx

You can download the latest rollup for MS CRM 4.0 here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0DDF8E83-5D9C-4FE7-9AE6-F2713A024071&displaylang=en seems like yesterday that rollup 1 was released... ;)

 

Notes about exporting and importing customisations

 

You can export customisations from a server that has Update Rollup 2 or Update Rollup 3 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 installed and import those customisations to a server that has Update Rollup 4 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 installed. You can also export customizations from a server that has Update Rollup 4 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 installed and import those customizations to a server that has Update Rollup 2 or Update Rollup 3 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 installed.


If you export customisations from a server that is running Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 server, do not import the customisations to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 server in the following scenarios:

• The server from which you are exporting the customisations has no updates installed or has Update Rollup 1 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 installed. However, the server to which you are importing the customisations has Update Rollup 4 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 installed
• The server from which you are exporting the customisations has Update Rollup 4 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 installed. However, the server to which you are importing the customisations has no updates installed or has Update Rollup 1 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 installed.