Business execs who are planning to replace their BlackBerry with Apple’s (News - Alert) new iPhone can rejoice in the fact that the iPhone now supports NetSuite’s Enterprise Resource Planning and Customer Relationship Management software.

NetSuite’s new SuitePhone app, which was announced today, brings all of the ERP, CRM and e-commerce functionality of NetSuite to the iPhone (News - Alert). The new capability means execs can run their business operations using the sleek new handheld computer from Apple that is creating quite a buzz. This new app is available to NetSuite users at no additional charge and is included in NetSuite's new NetSuite 2007.0 release, which will be widely available by August.

SuitePhone provides native support for Safari, the iPhone and Mac browser, thus enabling the iPhone and Apple computers to support NetSuite's advanced, AJAX-based user interface technologies, including drop-down menus, drag-and drop portlets and in-line editing.

NetSuite released the first mobile version of its software in May, when it announced that its software is available wirelessly on mobile devices including the BlackBerry (News - Alert), the Palm Treo and Windows Mobile devices.

The news comes just as NetSuite prepares for its much-anticipated IPO. The company announced in early July that it had filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. NetSuite said it plans to raise up to $75 million, however, it did not say how many shares it will offer or at what price, although it is expected to sell approximately 10 percent of its common stock.

In a press release issued today, several company executives offered testimonials in which they expressed their pleasure with the new SuitePhone offering:

“It's such a pleasant surprise to see my NetSuite dashboard on my iPhone,” said Brad Kugler, CEO of Distribution Video and Audio, Inc., based in Palm Harbor, Fla. “As the CEO of my company, having visibility into my business in real-time is critical. With my iPhone, I can see and act on key business information such as financial reporting, sales, orders, invoices, receivables and payables.”

Brian Keare, COO of Circle of Friends, based in Pacific Palisades, Calif., said he was “particularly impressed with the ability to dynamically resize web pages and use dropdowns.”

“I have already used it successfully to enter and approve sales orders, make deposits, and check inventory,” Keare said “Especially while traveling or on vacation, the iPhone and SuitePhone allow me to keep in touch with my business through NetSuite at no additional charge.”

Mort O'Sullivan, president of Mebane, N.C.-based ArcaTech Systems, said with SuitPhone on his iPhone, “I have access to all my critical business information in my NetSuite account just as if I were at my computer."

"I have tried other mobile solutions in the past and been frustrated,” O’Sullivan said. “The iPhone is the first device that has a user interface that makes it a pleasure to work with web pages as sophisticated as NetSuite’s.”

SuitePhone will give managers and executives with iPhones a wide variety of ways to manage their businesses while they are away from their offices. With the functionality of NetSuite at their fingertips, back-office users can use their iPhone to remotely access their financial functionality such as invoicing, accounts receivable, and payroll; CRM users can enter leads, file expense reports, view contacts, even place quotes and orders; and E-commerce operations can also be readily managed.

For more information about SuitePhone, visit www.netsuite.com/portal/landing/suitephone.shtml.

----------

Patrick Barnard is Associate Editor for Customer Interaction Solutions magazine and Assignment Editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page.