News
Forecast: Forecaster 7.0 Coming
Microsoft announced Tuesday that its FRx Software subsidiary will ship a significant
update to its budgeting and planning tool for organizations this spring.
Denver-based FRx Software offers a suite of financial analytics and reporting
tools for small and mid-size businesses as well as for emerging enterprise.
The products are part of Microsoft's Business Solutions group, which develops
and markets the Dynamics brand of business and financial products. (See "'Project
Green' Renamed Microsoft Dynamics," Sept. 7, 2005.)
Microsoft Forecaster provides budgeting and planning tools for mid-market companies,
according to Microsoft statements. Version 7.0 adds a new user interface along
with support for Windows Vista and Office 2007.
Version 7.0 also features the ability to use up to 10 segments or dimensions,
customized workflow, calculation validation, support for total types on accounts
and support for account ranges in the rollup trees. It also provides the ability
to customize the fields and sequence of fields within the Human Resources module.
Additionally, Microsoft FRx continues to integrate with Microsoft Forecaster.
Forecaster 7.0 is scheduled to be "released to manufacturing," or
RTM, on March 28, with general availability set for early April.
According to the statements, pricing starts at $8,500 for the server plus one
user. Each additional user costs $500. Those customers currently on the Microsoft
Forecaster support and maintenance plan can receive the upgrade at no additional
charge.
About the Author
Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.