“Employees crave options in where and how they work. And yet, IT still needs to enforce security and compliance of devices. The business is being pulled in two directions,” said Brad Anderson, corporate vice president of the Management and Services Division at Microsoft. “Microsoft’s desktop virtualization strategy is unique in addressing this balance. It builds on existing investments and comprehensive management to mitigate risks and control costs, while still equipping end users to be more productive from anywhere.”

Customers are also looking at desktop virtualization as a means to reduce costs and accelerate delivery of new applications. A new Microsoft total cost of ownership study on the use of application virtualization technology showed that customers using a Microsoft virtualization technology called Microsoft App-V achieved a 27 percent labor savings, and equivalent cost savings of $82 per PC per year, in application life-cycle management compared with those not using application virtualization. The study also demonstrated how Microsoft App-V helps IT professionals deliver applications more quickly and efficiently.

“We have a strong philosophy that IT is an enabler for the business, and we are always looking for the best IT solutions to meet the needs of our employees and customers,” said Chaz Spahn, senior systems engineer for Expedia Inc. “We’re working with Microsoft on our desktop virtualization projects. We’re using App-V in production and looking to virtualize about 90 percent of our applications. In addition, we have two use cases where we are exploring hosted desktops and foresee about 30 percent of our users could move to this platform. Microsoft was our choice since they have the right solutions to increase our speed of application and desktop provisioning, improve security and compliance, and provide integrated management across our physical and virtual environments.”

Microsoft outlined improvements that make it easier to access desktop virtualization. More information on today’s announcement and Microsoft’s virtualization strategy is available here.

New VDI promotions available for qualified customers to choose from today. Microsoft and Citrix Systems are offering the “Rescue for VMware VDI” promotion, which allows VMware View customers to trade in up to 500 licenses at no additional cost, and the “VDI Kick Start” promotion, which offers new customers a more than 50 percent discount off the estimated retail price. Eligibility and other details on the two promotions can be found at http://www.citrixandmicrosoft.com.

Improved licensing model for virtual Windows desktop. Beginning July 1, 2010, Windows Client Software Assurance customers will no longer have to buy a separate license to access their Windows operating system in a VDI environment, as virtual desktop access rights now will be a Software Assurance benefit.

New roaming use rights improve flexibility. Beginning July 1, 2010, Windows Client Software Assurance and new Virtual Desktop Access license customers will have the right to access their virtual Windows desktop and their Microsoft Office applications hosted on VDI technology on secondary, non-corporate network devices, such as home PCs and kiosks.

Windows XP Mode no longer requires hardware virtualization technology. This change simplifies the experience by making virtualization more accessible to many more PCs for small and midsize businesses wanting to migrate to Windows 7 Professional or higher editions, while still running Windows XP-based productivity applications.

Two new features coming in Windows Server 2008 R2 service pack 1. Microsoft Dynamic Memory will allow customers to adjust memory of a guest virtual machine on demand to maximize server hardware use. Microsoft RemoteFX will enable users of virtual desktops and applications to receive a rich 3-D, multimedia experience while accessing information remotely.

New technology agreement with Citrix Systems. The companies will work together to enable the high-definition HDX technology in Citrix XenDesktop to enhance and extend the capabilities of the Microsoft RemoteFX platform.

“By joining forces in desktop virtualization, Citrix and Microsoft can provide customers of all sizes with groundbreaking solutions that are profoundly simpler, richer and more cost-effective,” said Gordon Payne, senior vice president and general manager, Desktop Division, at Citrix Systems. “Today’s announcements mark a historic milestone in our 20-year relationship that will dramatically simplify desktop computing for years to come.”

In today’s webcast, Microsoft and Citrix executives, analysts, and customers will discuss today’s news and Microsoft’s desktop-to-datacenter virtualization strategy. Today’s webcast also marks the beginning of a 100-city, worldwide series of events to educate customers on the comprehensive portfolio of desktop and datacenter virtualization solutions provided by Microsoft and its partners, including Citrix. To join the dialogue, Twitter users can tweet their comments and questions to #MSVirt.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp. http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2010/mar10/03-18DesktopVirtPR.mspx

HDX technology in Citrix XenDesktop™ delivers a high-definition user experience of virtual desktops and applications. The Citrix HDX Ready designation is reserved for thin client devices like the TC5X that have been verified to work with HDX technology in both XenDesktop and Citrix XenApp™.

“Devon IT continues to advance the capabilities of virtual desktop computing with the TC5X thin client,” said John Fanelli, vice president, community and solutions marketing at Citrix.  “Coupled with HDX technology in XenDesktop, the TC5X provides an excellent experience for demanding users who require multi-monitor support, high-definition video and use high throughput devices such as VOIP headsets.  Working together XenDesktop and the Citrix HDX Ready TC5X deliver a high-definition user experience and expand the ability of companies and organizations to offer virtual desktops to a wide variety of users.”

“HDX technology in XenDesktop is again delivering optimal  user experience for virtual desktops, and this time playing a vital role in the adoption of alternatives to PC computing models,” says Stephane Verdy, Devon IT’s CTO. “HDX allows seamless multimedia, plug-and-play access to USB and other peripherals, high-performance graphics, VOIP, and other key media imperative for business functionality. We are proud that our technology has grown with Citrix and that the TC5X can advance side-by-side with XenDesktop to enhance the experience for thin client users.”

The TC5 was the first thin client generally available with the powerful Intel® Atom™ n270 1.6GHz dual threaded processor capable of dual-DVI displays with a minimum desktop footprint. The TC5X is Energy Star Certified, with very low power consumption, and is now available with the updated Windows Embedded Standard 2009 OS with support for XenApp and XenDesktop.

Devon IT engineers are available for technical demonstrations of VDI Blasters and informational webinars for the media, and are available to comment on all topics relating to thin clients, alternative desktop solutions, desktop and server virtualization, and cloud computing. More information about the company’s hardware and software solutions are available at www.devonit.com.  

The TC10 zero client has no application OS, CPU, or processor and provides a rich user experience using the PC-over-IP® (PCoIP®) protocol, ideal for virtual desktop environments as well as hardware accelerated remote workstations. With an integrated  Teradici PCoIP processor,  the TC10 allows users at enterprises and small-scale companies to manage desktops centrally  and allows delivery of images and applications that rival PC performance directly from the data center.

“The hurdles for widespread adoption of virtual desktop computing solutions have undoubtedly been anchored in performance,” says Stephane Verdy, CTO for Devon IT. “Powerful new zero client solutions like the TC10 deliver high-end user experiences that rival traditional desktop PCs, eradicating the performance obstacle but also drastically improving the utility for IT personnel. The cost, management, and security benefits of managing virtual desktops centrally have proven to be very attractive to companies of all sizes, and we believe adding rich media and performance with Zero Client computing fills a growing segment in virtual desktop deployment.”

“Devon has been a long term partner of Teradici and their innovative design of the TC10 zero client provides a highly secure and low maintenance method of accessing virtual desktops with full media capability,” said Randy Groves, CTO at Teradici Corporation. “The new release of VMware View™ 4 with the PCoIP protocol is a compelling solution and makes the Devon TC10 a good fit for a much broader audience.”

The TC10 zero client solution offers tremendous flexibility and management benefits for both IT administrators and users. Centralized client management, storage, and processing from a secure data center can drastically improve IT efficiency and reduce associated costs, all while giving users real-time, secure access to corporate applications and files. Virtual computing also gives users a personal, PC-like experience, even though data can be accessed from any similar device. And the minimal footprint of the TC10 eliminates the need to equip even remote users with a complex client device, which can reduce deployment costs.

Devon IT engineers are available for technical demonstrations of VDI Blasters and informational webinars for the media, and are available to comment on all topics relating to thin clients, alternative desktop solutions, desktop and server virtualization, and cloud computing. More information about the company’s hardware and software solutions are available at www.devonit.com.  

“Devon IT is committed to collaborating with our reseller partners and providing them with vital resources, from sales support to technical demonstrations and webinars,” says Joe Makoid, President of Devon IT. “We have received tremendous interest in our VDI Blaster software suite due to its ability to transform PCs into near-zero clients, and our reseller partners have also been frequently contacted for demonstrations. This program is designed to make proof-of-concept presentations and demos easier for these valued partners.”

Users download VDI Blaster™ to existing PCs via a USB key or a network install. VDI Blaster™ deploys Devon IT’s thin client operating system, Devon Terminal Operating System (DeTOS™), and  Devon IT’s proprietary thin client management software to help IT administrators manage enterprise-wide deployments from a central location. Users can select to boot into their normal Windows operating system, DeTOS™, or VMware View 4, the industry’s only purpose-built desktop virtualization solution. More information about Devon IT’s VDI Blaster is available at http://www.vdiblaster.com .

Devon IT’s thin client management software combines thin client management capabilities with connection management features.  This management software works for large-scale, complex virtual-desktop deployments and smaller-scale environments using Devon IT thin clients and repurposed PCs.

Resellers can obtain a trial (not for resale) copy of the latest version of VDI Blaster by visiting http://www.vdiblaster.com/reseller/.  More information about the company’s hardware and software solutions is available at www.devonit.com.  Resellers can also email info@devonit.com or call 610-757-4220 for more information.

The VDI Blaster software suite was launched in August 2009 to help users repurpose PCs into thin clients, extending the useful life of PCs while testing virtual desktop environments. Version 1.1 now supports VMware View™ 4 and PC-over-IP® (PCoIP®) which gives users true PC experience, including with multimedia. The upgraded version 1.1 also includes the ability to boot VDI Blaster from a USB key or CD-ROM, in addition to network installation.

“VDI Blaster gives organizations the ability to transform portions of their IT infrastructures from PC environments to virtual desktops overnight. We’ve found that the ability to repurpose and reuse existing PC asseys has not only extended organizations’ capital investments, but also helped them realize the cost, security, and manageability benefits of switching to hosted clients,” says Joe Makoid, President, Devon IT. “This new release of VDI Blaster expands this effort and gives IT teams and users the chance to experience the power of PCoIP with VMware View 4 and other applications, and the flexibility to boot in various forms. The software’s price point is also very appealing to customers.”

Once VDI Blaster is deployed, users can select to boot into Devon IT’s newest thin client operating system, Devon Terminal Operating System 7 (DeTOS™). Devon IT’s thin client management software is also downloadable for free to help IT administrators manage enterprise-wide deployments of thin clients and/or repurposed PCs from one central location.

Devon IT engineers are available for technical demonstrations of VDI Blasters and informational webinars for the media, and are available to comment on all topics relating to thin clients, alternative desktop solutions, desktop and server virtualization, and cloud computing. More information about the company’s hardware and software solutions are available at www.devonit.com.

According to Gartner Inc., the worldwide hosted virtual desktop (HVD) market is expected to reach 49 million units by 2013, up from over 500,000 units in 2009. Worldwide HVD revenue is expected to grow from about $1.5 billion in 2009, which is less than one percent of the worldwide professional PC market, to $65.7 billion in 2013, equal to over 40% of the worldwide professional PC market. U.S.-based Devon IT works with over 100 European distributors and resellers, including TDIST, a leading provider of IT products to the value added reseller channel.

“The European thin client market has always been larger than that of the United States, and our precipitous sales growth in the region sparked the need for expansion,” says Adrian Hedges, general manager of European operations for Devon IT. “We’ve seen an uptake in virtual desktop deployment worldwide, fueled by VMware’s View software, and tremendous interest in centrally managing desktops. Our Intel Atom processor-based TC5 thin client and thin client management software fit perfectly with virtualization software, and we are poised to increase our global presence in the booming virtual desktop market.”

“It is no secret that users are increasingly deploying virtualization and wireless technologies across Europe, and that this trend will continue indefinitely,” says Steve Hawes, Marketing Director for TDIST. “Companies like Devon IT have introduced advanced thin client hardware and software technologies to the marketplace and have destroyed performance and cost barriers formally prohibiting widespread adoption of hosted virtual desktops. We expect Devon IT to continue its exceptional growth into the European market, and are proud to expand revenue opportunities for resellers with Devon IT.”

Devon IT engineers are available for technical demonstrations and webinars for the media, and are available to comment on all topics relating to thin clients, alternative desktop solutions, desktop and server virtualization, and cloud computing. For demonstrations in Europe, please call +44 (0)121 222 5500. More information about the company’s hardware and software solutions are available at www.devonit.com.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps businesses and consumers save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. The program started in 1992 and helped Americans save enough energy in 2008 to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 29 million cars — all while saving $19 billion on their utility bills.

“One of the major benefits of advanced thin clients like the TC5 is the reduction of power consumption that both helps the environment and reduces total cost of ownership for hosted client computing models,” says Stephane Verdy, CTO for Devon IT. “The TC5 can power users’ desktops using far less electricity than traditional desktop PCs while still delivering high-end computing experience. We are proud that the TC5 has been certified by ENERGY STAR, as our goals to reduce power consumption in corporations nationwide are aligned.”

Devon IT’s CTO, Stephane Verdy, routinely offers technical demonstrations and webinars for the media, and is available to comment on all topics relating to thin clients, alternative desktop solutions, desktop and server virtualization, and cloud computing. More information about the company’s hardware and software solutions are available at www.devonit.com.

The TC10 is among the first thin clients to run Teradici’s patented PCoIP® protocol on hardware-to-hardware and hardware-to-software displays after becoming the first thin client ever to run PCoIP in 2007. PCoIP enables customers operating remotely to deploy rich functionality and full multimedia user experiences. VMware View 4, the industry’s only purpose-built desktop virtualization solution, has enabled new quality, cost and scale standards and helped users eliminate critical functionality barriers that previously restricted customer adoption.

“We are excited about the expanded capabilities for VMware View™ 4 with Teradici’s PCoIP® display protocol,” said Raj Mallempati, director, product marketing, Desktop Business Unit, VMware. “This powerful solution requires high-powered thin clients like the TC10 to work effectively. We are pleased that the TC10 fits these requirements after passing specific VMware integration and interoperability criteria.”

“The collaboration between Teradici and Devon IT continues to deliver innovative PCoIP solutions to enterprises looking to maximize their VDI investment,” said Dan Cordingley, president and CEO, Teradici Corporation. “With comprehensive security, optimal desktop reliability, and low total cost of ownership, the TC10 zero client provides VMware View 4.0 customers with a reliable and future-proof solution.”

“VMware View™ 4 has no doubt raised the bar for delivering high-quality, PC-like desktop experiences to users of all intensity levels, from task workers to CAD engineers and financial traders,” says Stephane Verdy, CTO for Devon IT. “We have worked with innovators like VMware and Teradici for years, and we are ecstatic that we can once again provide customers with the most powerful PCoIP-based thin client in the world.”

The VMware Hardware Certification Program enables VMware Technology Alliance Partner (TAP) program members to provide mutual customers with jointly supported hardware solutions. Passing the extensive certification testing helps ensure that Devon IT is compatible with VMware technology and ready for deployment in customer environments.

The VMware Ready program is a VMware co-branding program for qualified partner products and is a benefit of the VMware TAP program. With more than 1,000 members worldwide, the VMware TAP program works with best-of-breed technology partners to provide them a comprehensive set of VMware technical and marketing services, support, tools and expertise to deliver enhanced value to joint customers.

Devon IT’s CTO, Stephane Verdy, routinely offers technical demonstrations and webinars for the media, and is available to comment on all topics relating to thin clients, alternative desktop solutions, desktop and server virtualization, and cloud computing. More information about the company’s hardware and software solutions are available at www.devonit.com.

Executives are weighing in on what to expect next year in server and desktop virtualization, cloud computing, OS virtualization, I/O virtualization, network virtualization, storage virtualization and more.

We offered our thoughts which are anchored in the game-altering impact new RDP protocols, including VMware View 4, XenDesktop 4, RDP 7 and SPICE are having on the marketplace.

While Citrix ICA and Windows Terminal Services clearly have the deepest market penetration, the high-powered technologies of PCoIP and others, coupled with advanced thin client hardware, can deliver users true PC experiences – on everything from YouTube videos to CAD engineering programs – in a virtual desktop.

It will be interesting to see the adoption in the industry now that some of these performance barriers will be broken – we think it’s the future of alternative desktop computing.

A component of Red Hat’s September 2008 acquisition of Qumranet, SPICE is an adaptive remote rendering protocol designed specifically for virtual environments.  With its modern, high-performance communications technology, SPICE aims to provide a seamless user experience for today’s bandwidth-intensive applications such as multi-media and VoIP, offering a user experience comparable to that of a physical desktop.

“By open sourcing this technology, we are allowing our industry partners and the community to contribute to the future of virtualization with us,” said Brian Stevens, CTO and vice president, Engineering at Red Hat.  “The SPICE protocol is designed to optimize performance by automatically adapting to the graphics and communications environment that it is running in, so vendors have a terrific opportunity to enhance it for their specific applications. Open sourcing technologies is at the heart of Red Hat’s development and business model, and we hope that the ecosystem around desktop virtualization will now grow more rapidly and deliver more innovation to customers sooner.”

“While open sourcing acquired technologies is only logical for Red Hat, the company is backing its release of the SPICE protocol source code as open source with supporting implementation code and components for server and client deployment,” said Jay Lyman, enterprise software analyst with The 451 Group. “We’re still very early on in the adoption of virtual desktop technology and standards, but an open source SPICE has real potential to build developer and ecosystem support and to serve as a common layer among different VDI options.”

“Red Hat’s delivery of the open source SPICE protocol is an important step toward the goal of interoperability for the industry’s heterogeneous virtualization solutions,” said Daniel Frye, vice president, Open Systems Development, IBM. “We look forward to working with Red Hat and the open source community to drive virtualization adoption forward.”

“Devon IT is at the forefront of delivering multimedia through thin client solutions and is a strong supporter of the SPICE protocol using our thin clients,” said Joe Makoid, president, Devon IT.  “Open sourcing paves the way for an industry standard upon which Devon IT can help customers build valuable solutions.  Devon IT is pleased to offer our leadership to help enable open source solutions that integrate into customers’ existing environments.”

SPICE is one of three main technology components included in Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization for Desktops, a solution set currently in a private beta with general availability expected in 2010.

For more information on or to contribute to the Spice project, visit http://www.spice-space.org.

For more information about Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization for Desktops, visit www.redhat.com/rhev/desktop.

For more news about Red Hat, visit www.redhat.com. For more news, more often, visit www.press.redhat.com.

About Red Hat, Inc.

Red Hat, the world’s leading provider of open source solutions and a component of the S&P 500, is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with over 65 offices spanning the globe. CIOs ranked Red Hat as one of the top vendors delivering value in Enterprise Software for six consecutive years in the CIO Insight Magazine Vendor Value survey. Red Hat provides high-quality, affordable technology with its operating system platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, together with virtualization, applications, management and Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) solutions, including Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization and JBoss Enterprise Middleware. Red Hat also offers support, training and consulting services to its customers worldwide. Learn more: http://www.redhat.com.

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