MS unveils ERP cloud plans

enterprise resource planning (ERP) software over the Internet, reports Cnet.

During the Microsoft Convergence 2011 conference in Atlanta, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer laid out plans to give businesses the ability to use Microsoft Dynamics ERP as a service, running on the Windows Azure platform.

Microsoft said that it's also planning to discuss how partners can profit from the Azure deployment model, states PC World.

The company explained that partners would be able to sell cloud-enabled vertical applications, services and add-ons through the Dynamics marketplace.

In addition, the company also rolled out the beta version of its next update to its ERP software, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. The company said the general release would come in August.

InformationWeek says Ballmer emphasised the organisation's 10th anniversary in enterprise applications. Ballmer said enterprise apps are not a stand-alone business for Microsoft by pointing to connections with the company's consumer-oriented technologies.

Few details were offered on Microsoft's ERP-meets-cloud-computing plans other than the point that it will run on the combination of Windows Azure, SQL Azure, and Office 365, the last of which is expected to debut sometime this year.

Kirill Tatarinov, corporate vice-president for Microsoft Business Solutions, offered no detail on target dates, quarters, or even years. There was also no indication of which ERP products, which geographic markets, or which deployment approaches might be favoured.