With many cool usability improvements and a new Module Loader for easier packaging and sharing of modifications, Sugar Suite 3.5 is now generally available and ready for download. You can either check out the on-line demo at demo.sugarondemand.com/sugarcrm_os or just download the installation package from www.sugarforge.org/projects/sugarcrm.

Our goal continues to be to build the customer relationship management system that you have always wanted. That means we love hearing from you. To share ideas with the Sugar Community, ask questions, find answers and submit feedback, please visit the Sugar Forums located here.

For a quick list of new features for 3.5, check out the information below.

Enjoy!
The Sugar Team

Key New Features

Module Loader
Sugar Suite's new extensible module framework allows users to add or remove third-party modules without programming and keeps the add-ons separate from the base application code, allowing core updates to be made without affecting accessory modules.

HTML Formatted Emails
HTML emails enables the use of embedded graphics and formatted text both in single-use emails and in email marketing campaigns created and managed through Sugar Suite. This complements existing plain-text email abilities and helps users attract the attention of prospects and customers.

Customization Safekeeping
Improved upgradeability of customizations, with new upgrade-safe event handlers that will preserve modifications during future release upgrades.

SOAP API calls
These calls are created to query and easily traverse module relationships. Now complex interactions don’t require heavy enhancements to the API.

Faster Database Responses
Increased database performance with a single connection instance and SQL optimizations. Your users will notice the difference in response times.

Upgrade Manager
This tool completely manages upgrades from within the system administration screen, eliminating the need to manually copy and paste files. Offers controlled upgrade to speed-up the upgrade process and reduce the potential for errors.

Improved Sugar Plug-in for Outlook
The plug-in has faster navigation and greater control over synchronization of contacts and calendars into Sugar Suite including the ability to now archive email attachments. Users can archive customer emails to a contact, opportunity, lead or account with one click; transfer scheduled meeting information from Outlook to Sugar Suite through the Free/ Busy Server; and more. The Sugar Plug-in for Outlook is available for $39.95 per user.

Slap me some SKINS!
Four new interface templates, giving end users a total of 10 different looks to personalize their SugarCRM application. Skins can be changed immediately before logging into the application, allowing users to have a different experience at any time for variety.

Upcoming SugarCRM Events

We loved seeing so many of you at OSCON in Portland and LinuxWorld in San Francisco. We are thrilled that the Sugar Suite is so successfully helping you grow your business. Please stop by the SugarCRM booth if you are attending any of the following upcoming events.

Novell BrainShare 2005 - Barcelona, Spain
September 11-15, 2005
The Novell Brainshare conference has a trio offering including Linux Certification (on-site testing is free), the developer den, and the solutions lab. Come to Barcelona and experience real-world implementations, cutting edge technologies and award winning programs.

Oracle Open World - Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
September 19-22, 2005
See the latest software enhancements, developments, and customizations available from Oracle partners, customers, and solutions providers. Only at Oracle OpenWorld will you have access to the Oracle DEMOgrounds where you can discuss the innovative developments in Oracle applications and technology with the experts who create the solutions.

Zend/PHP Conference & Expo 2005 - Burlingame, CA
October 18 - 21, 2005
The Zend/PHP Conference is the only U.S.-based PHP conference this year and the only place where PHP and business come together. Come hear from the experts and from the companies that have deployed real PHP applications to solve real business problems.