MINNEAPOLIS, July 8 -- Group 1 Software, Inc., a Pitney Bowes Company, announced today at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2005 that it has achieved entry into the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program with the integration between its Data Quality Adapter(TM) and Microsoft CRM. Group 1 develops software, such as its Data Quality Adapter for Microsoft CRM, that helps provide integrated Customer Communications Management (CCM) solutions. Such solutions maximize the value of customer data and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of customer communications. "The cornerstone of any successful Customer Relationship Management (CRM) initiative is accurate, consolidated customer and prospect information," said Chris Baker, president, Group 1 Software. "With our Data Quality Adapter for Microsoft CRM, we enable Microsoft CRM users to maximize the value of their most strategic competitive asset -- customer data." Members of the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program must meet rigorous certification criteria and must prove their expertise in a given solution area by providing real-world customer references. Group 1 Software has been named as Microsoft Gold Certified Partner due to its proven competencies with data quality and with the latest Microsoft technologies. Membership in the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program provides Group 1 Software and Microsoft CRM customers with a solution that helps maximize the benefits of CRM. "Group 1's Data Quality Adapter is the only data quality solution available with robust duplication management," said Jim Stout, chief executive officer, Invoke Systems, a Baltimore-based Microsoft CRM partner. "Group 1's solution enables us to further enhance our CRM offering." Group 1 Software's Data Quality Adapter for Microsoft CRM offers real-time hosted data quality, enrichment, and duplicate management services for Microsoft CRM users. With on-demand data quality for over 220 countries and dependencies, the Data Quality Adapter enables Microsoft CRM users to validate, correct, standardize, and auto-populate address information, plus manage duplicate records. By cleansing address data, and identifying and consolidating information to create best-of-breed records, organizations that use Microsoft CRM can benefit from greater ROI with a resource- and cost- efficient hosted services model from Group 1 Software. Microsoft provides its Gold Certified Partners with in-depth access to existing and emerging Microsoft technologies and related training and resources to help ensure that they have the technical intimacy needed to deliver quality solutions. "Only companies that have demonstrated the highest level of customer service, proven their experience and attained advanced certification receive the designation of Microsoft Gold Certified Partners," said Allison Watson, vice president, worldwide partner programs, Microsoft. "Today, Microsoft recognizes Group 1 Software for demonstrating this level of expertise and welcomes it as a new Microsoft Gold Certified Partner."