With Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 soon to hit public beta release, there's more and more buzz about Microsoft's push into the cloud. Microsoft has been offering CRM as a cloud-based subscription service for several years now, but its restrictions on server-side plug-ins has lessened its appeal to developers and organizations with complex business requirements.

The buzz is that with the release of CRM 2011, the online SaaS offering will open up new possibilities for development. Microsoft's July 2010 press release said of CRM 2011:

Cloud development. Developers can develop and deploy custom code for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online using powerful tools, such as Microsoft Visual Studio. Powered by .NET Framework 4, they can also incorporate Microsoft Silverlight, Windows Communication Foundation and Language Integrated Query into their cloud solutions.

 So what does this mean? Well, let's break it down:

• Developers can develop and deploy custom code for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online.