VAR Genesis Communications claims its acquisition of Increase CRM will transform it into a powerhouse in the UK's hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM space.

The deal was closed for an undisclosed sum and Microsoft claimed it was " excited" by the news as both firms are Gold partners of the software giant. The two companies claimed Genesis' hosted platform will be a good fit with Increase CRM's professional services expertise.

They also indicated the deal will be beneficial to Genesis' plans to launch an offering allowing end users to access CRM data via mobile devices. Genesis director Piers Linney said the acquisition would make his firm a sizeable presence in the SME space.

"The acquisition of Increase CRM allows us to become a UK market leader and dramatically extends our ability to support customers and deliver the value-added professional services that our customers are demanding as they increasingly embrace the power of Microsoft Dynamics CRM," said Linney.

Increase CRM's chief addict Neil Benson said: “We can now offer our customers a wider range of mobile and hosted solutions, combined with the added security of the significant investment that Genesis has made in its infrastructure."

Martin Walker, Microsoft's UK lead for software and services, welcomed the move.

"This acquisition further enhances the capabilities of Genesis, which is a business with the infrastructure, scale and the necessary expertise to offer a compelling Microsoft Dynamics CRM proposition," he said.