Microsoft, Intel Set CRM Scalability Benchmark

Microsoft and Intel announced June 3 that Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, running on the Intel Xeon Processor 5500 series, in performance tests had scaled up to 50,000 concurrent users and over 2.9 million daily transactions.

"In this benchmark, we've [proven] that Microsoft Dynamics CRM can handle extreme workloads with minimal investment in hardware and a reduced impact to the environment," Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, said in a statement.

In a joint press release, Microsoft and Intel trumpeted the relatively low hardware cost—less than $35,000—and reduced server power consumption involved in reaching those numbers.

Microsoft has been heavily promoting its CRM over the past few months as it seeks to compete against other cloud-applications providers such as Salesforce.com.

In March, Microsoft opened its Convergence conference by offering a number of then-new CRM add-ons and services without cost, including eight Microsoft Dynamics CRM Accelerators and an SLA (service-level agreement) for CRM Online customers.

At the same time, the company announced a free Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online March 2009 Service Update and an SLA of 99.9 percent uptime for all Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online customers. The eight CRM Accelerators were Analytics, Business Productivity, CRM Notifications, Enterprise Search, eService, Event Management, Extended Sales Forecasting and Sales Methodologies.

In addition to the enterprise, Microsoft Dynamics CRM also powers Microsoft's Public Sector On-Demand Solutions, applications for government and education that include public-records tracking, student information systems and other programs.