Vin:

Almost and sort of are your answers.

BCM does allow everyone to see all the data in the shared database.  There's
no secure way to separate Vin's contacts from Lon's.  You can change the
view to filter in/out the data but if someone learns how to un-filter it,
then they can see everything.

One way to get around this is to give each salesperson their own BCM
database, then have them export their data regularly and import it into a
"master" BCM db at headquarters.  That db could then be accessed by senior
management who would be able to see all the data.  This method could be done
for teams also -- each team could share one db and the team's db would
rollup into a master.  However, this requires an admin person to accomplish
it and increases the likelihood of errors and duplicates.

Have you looked at MS CRM Live?  This would do what you want and is
projected to be much cheaper than salesforce but not as cheap as Sugar.  It
does, however, integrate much better with Outlook and other MS products.

HTH,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
Lon@pinpointtools.com
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook:  Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
www.pinpointtools.com