The most interesting quote from the press release, would be:
"Windows® and Office are a powerful foundation for productivity and a rich platform for partners to build great solutions and add value," Gates said. "The Microsoft Business Solutions group builds on that foundation to deliver world-class business applications that are simpler and less expensive, offering more companies new ways to enhance the way they work."
Which shows MSFT is moving towards further integrating it’s Business Solutions with Office and selling it more and more as a platform as well as an application suite, see also VSTO 2005.
One more quote:
"Project Green," the code name for next-generation Microsoft Business Solutions' development efforts, will be delivered over the course of two waves. The first wave will occur between 2005 and 2007, and will include the release of a shared user interface based around 50 common configurable roles that people have within a company, all seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Office. Microsoft's business applications also will interoperate with service-oriented applications and include a common configurable reporting environment based on SQL Server (TM) Reporting Services and a common security-enhanced intranet and extranet environment based on Microsoft Office SharePoint® Portal Server to enable new levels of collaboration within and across companies. (Emphasize mine)
Looking forward to see what improvements have been made, esp. in Microsoft CRM, est. RTM Q4 2005, since that isn’t the friendliest platform to base a solution on.