Microsoft is banking on a pay by the month charging scheme to pull small businesses onto its customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.

Traditionally seen as the preserve of big firms, CRM and ERP are moving to small and medium organisations.

Monthly payments are available in "15 major markets". They allow customers to pay for not just software but also partner services like integration.

On roadmaps Microsoft promised to give customers more information on its future direction for the products. It pledged to give "comprehensive statements of direction" at least 12 to 18 months ahead of any changes.

Mainstream support will be for five years or customers can choose Extended Support for a total of 10 years. Enterprise customers can get "Premier Support" which promises "24/7 break-fix services...rapid on-site support".®

Related stories

Google and Salesforce snuggle up with biz apps (14 April 2008)
Big fines and jail time for MS scammers (26 October 2007)
Microsoft racks up best quarter since 1999 (26 October 2007)
Sage partners worry about falling into Line (4 October 2007)
Salesforce shuns Google Docs route (for now) (21 September 2007)
SAP fails to unveil on-demand service (20 September 2007)
Salesforce force feeds SaaS to the masses (17 September 2007)
Linux vendors and Microsoft follow the money (10 August 2007)
Microsoft Windows patent will spy for advertisers (18 July 2007)