Microsoft (News - Alert) is "gearing up to make Dynamics CRM Online available internationally in the second half of this year."

Industry observer Marius Oiaga reports that Microsoft Business Division President Stephen Elop and Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Business Solutions Kirill Tatarinov announced that, come H2 2010, "customers in no less than 32 markets around the world would be able to start taking advantage of Dynamics CRM Online."

Microsoft said some customers worldwide could start using it as of today. 

The countries covered in the announcement are the standard laundry list - the U.S. and Canada, a litany of European countries, Israel, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, India, the usual suspects.

Starting in May, Oiaga says, certain existing users of the Cloud Dynamics CRM offerings will get new features, "with Microsoft planning a free refresh for the service." He said the May 2010 service update for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online "will bring to the table additional language support, new Portal accelerators, fresh developer tools and resources and Dynamics GP and Dynamics CRM integration." 

Axonom, a vendor of industry-specific CRM and PRM extensions for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, has announced its Powertrak Unified Applications release. Powertrak's Unified Service Manager and Unified Channel Manager "enhance customer/partner business processes with Microsoft Unified Communications (News - Alert)," company officials say.

Certified for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Powertrak's modules for the High Tech industry include Forecasting, Customer and Partner Portals, Design Win, Contact Center, Quote and Product Configurator, Certification Tracking, Mobile, and Service Manager. All Powertrak modules are integrated with Microsoft Dynamics CRM and can be optionally extended with Microsoft SharePoint Server for global partner and customer interaction.

Mike Belongie, vice president of sales at Axonom, said "your customers and partners demand immediate support response when complex issues arise. Our product will not only display the appropriately skilled support professional but also the best means to contact that person right away."