For most customers of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the December 2012 Service Update (code name "Polaris") has recently gone from "coming soon" to "HERE!" Microsoft has started to upgrade Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online customers and plans to continue doing so through the end of the month. See Microsoft's Resource Center to find out What's New.

On Premise customers will get some of the "Polaris" features now in Update Rollup 12 (UR12) and some of them in a Spring release. That update is available now and can be downloaded at Update Rollup 12 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.

Customers who have been upgraded will notice slight differences in the appearance of the user interface in addition to Office 2013 capability; however, most of the features will still need to be "turned on" one by one, and before doing this, some planning is recommended. Here are some helpful links to get you started.

Exploring the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online New Features

• Introduction to New Lead and Opportunity Forms
• How to turn on the new sales and service process forms
• Editing the New Sales Process
• Introduction to the New Guided Case Resolution Process
• Editing the New Case Resolution Process
• Introduction to the Skype Integration
• Using Bing Maps with the New Sales Process

Preparing for Cross-Browser Support

Cross Browser support is a feature that is NOT "opt-in," and therefore it will take effect once the December 2012 Update is applied. That is why it is important be familiar with the Browser Capability before the update.

In addition, JavaScript using the CRMform method from CRM 4.0 will need to be updated via instructions in the SDK. This code will break and cause errors, therefore these two articles may be helpful.

• Resolve breaking script issues when upgrading to the next release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Custom Code Validation Tool Released

JavaScript will need to be written for cross-browser support via instructions in the SDK. For more information, see what's new for developers, as well as the "Write JavaScript for Multiple Browsers" section on the Use JavaScript with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 page.

Looking Ahead

For CRM Online users, the Yammer integration and the iPad Experience will be rolling out over the month of February 2013. In addition to the Windows 8 App for Microsoft Dynamics CRM that PowerObjects has develop, the iPad Experience will provide another mobile solution for organizations interested in driving sales productivity on tablets.

Happy CRM'ing!