“We are pleased that the Devon IT TC5D thin client qualifies for the VMware Ready™ logo, signifying to customers that it has passed specific VMware testing and interoperability criteria and is ready to run in production environments”

The TC5D was the first thin client generally available with the powerful Intel® Atom™ processor, and is now the second PCoIP-enabled Devon IT model to receive VMware View 4 certification. PCoIP enables customers operating remotely to deploy full PC-like experiences, including multimedia capabilities, on a thin client. VMware launched VMware View 4, the industry’s only purpose-built desktop virtualization solution, with PCoIP functionality to significantly increase virtual desktop flexibility, quality, and scalability and help users cost-effectively deploy centrally manageable virtual solutions.

“We are pleased that the Devon IT TC5D thin client qualifies for the VMware Ready™ logo, signifying to customers that it has passed specific VMware testing and interoperability criteria and is ready to run in production environments,” said Bernie Mills, senior director, alliance programs, VMware.

“According to Gartner Inc. and other industry gurus, the thin client and hosted virtual desktop market is poised to explode, especially in corporate environments,” says Joe Makoid, President, Devon IT. “The practicality and cost benefits of these alternative desktop platforms are leading reasons why IT administrators are taking data off of the desktop and putting it back in the datacenter. We are proud that the TC5D has collaborated so well with View 4, and we expect this solution to help many customers save IT dollars without sacrificing performance.”

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 1,300 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 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. More information about the company’s hardware and software solutions are available at www.devonit.com.

“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

Users download VDI Blaster^TM to old PCs via a USB key or a network install. VDI Blaster^TM deploys Devon IT’s thin client operating system, Devon Terminal Operating System (DeTOS^TM), and  Devon IT’s thin client management software, ThinManage^TM, to help IT administrators manage enterprise-wide deployments from a central location. Once VDI Blaster^TM is deployed, users can select to boot into their normal Windows operating system or into DeTOS^TM.

“Using VDI Blaster to convert aging enterprise PCs into secure, managed thin clients enables organizations of all sizes to extend their capital investment in PCs while testing thin client computing models,” explained Joe Makoid, President, Devon IT.  “Traditional desktops typically need to be refreshed or replaced every three or four years, but companies and organizations can now extend the life of these PCs by converting them into thin clients. Users can simultaneously test hosted client computing methods, and we hope VDI Blaster will continue the momentum of IT administrators moving from desktop PCs to hosted client environments.”

VDI Blaster:

• Extends the useful life of aging PCs
• Uses virtual desktops, simply and cost effectively with no hardware replacement necessary
• Maintains Windows desktop experience
• Centrally manages converted PCs
• Allows Plug and play replacement of PC to a thin client when ready
• Converts back to Windows operating system as needed

Devon IT is working with customers and business partners such as  IBM and VMware to make VDI Blaster^TM available to IT administrators and executives worldwide.

“VDI Blaster^TM provides an intuitive vehicle to help PCs run longer and save companies significant amounts of money by extending their original capital investments and avoiding PC refreshes,” says Stephane Verdy, CTO, Devon IT. “Organizations can also use VDI Blaster^TM as a testing platform for server-based and virtual desktop environments, as VDI Blaster^TM essentially turns a PC into a thin client. Devon IT’s ThinManage^TM also helps manage enterprise desktops from one place in the datacenter, another cost-saving benefit.”

“Offering VDI Blaster^TM with VMware View^TM gives enterprises the ability to transform PC environments into virtual desktop environments overnight at a fraction of the cost,” says Raj Mallempati, director of product marketing, Desktop Business Unit, VMware. “VDI Blaster^TM will help to immediately bring the security and manageability benefits of VMware View to organizations while allowing them to leverage their investments in existing assets.”

“We have traditionally used desktop PCs for all of our employees, but are continually looking for ways to extend the useful life of these PCs as well as migrate towards a virtual desktop approach,” says Kevin DiBricida, Network Administrator from Continental Bank. “We are using VDI Blaster^TM to demonstrate the benefits of thin client computing to our company, and see this as a unique and cost-effective approach to the ongoing total-cost -of-ownership issue of desktop PCs.”

“We are excited to offer the VDI Blaster^TM software to our customers and allow them to save money on hardware costs as well as gain the benefits of desktop virtualization,” says Ray Collazo, President, Corpsolv Inc. “PC and even thin client deployments would be much more expensive, and with VDI Blaster^TM our customers can immediately benefit from higher enterprise security and increased manageability of their desktop devices.”

“There’s no question that the thin client market is growing, a trend that is fueled by innovative vendors.  Devon IT is leveraging its growing reputation with partners interviewed by Viewpoint for high quality customized thin client solutions,” says Dorothy Rosenthal VP, Research, a channels focused IT analyst firm.  “New thin client products from Devon IT offers partners alternative solutions and choices to the established thin client vendors.  Devon’s relationship with IBM endorses Devon’s thin client solution and has been a good platform to launch Devon’s expansion into the channel.”

For more information about VDI Blaster^TM, please visit www.vdiblaster.com or www.devonit.com/software/vdi-blaster/overview. For more information about Devon IT, thin client computing, or virtualization, or to arrange for a demonstration, email info@devonit.com or call 610-757-4220 or 888-524-9382.  Devon IT will be demonstrating the VDI Blaster^TM on repurposed PCs at the VMworld tradeshow, booth 2444, in San Francisco, CA, August 28 through September 2, 2009.  Follow Devon IT updates from VMworld 2009 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonIT

Passing the extensive certification testing helps ensure that the TC10 is compatible with VMware technology and ready for deployment in customer environments.

“By combining Devon IT’s TC10 thin clients with VMware View^TM, enterprises can centralize management, increase security and improve overall TCO.  This combined solution further helps enterprises provision users while meeting their diverse needs,” said Raj Mallempati, director, product marketing, desktop business unit, VMware. “We are pleased that the TC10 qualifies for the VMware Ready^TM Certified logo, signifying to customers that these thin client models have passed specific VMware integration and interoperability criteria.”

“Devon IT’s TC10 is the first desktop access device that gives the end user a true PC experience with instant screen updates, full multimedia support, and full USB compatibility.  Unlike a traditional thin client, the TC10 is for demanding users that require real time PC-like capability such as financial traders and power users such as CAD engineers” says Stephane Verdy, chief technology officer for Devon IT.  “Devon IT’s TC10 can now be centrally managed by the VMware View^TM Connection Broker.  We are proud of our continued relationship with VMware and are anxious to deploy VMware View with the TC10 thin clients to customers.”

The VMware Ready program is a VMware co-branding program for qualified partner products and is a benefit of the VMware Technology Alliance Partner (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 thin clients can be found within the online VMware Hardware Compatibility List at www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.  Devon IT will be demonstrating the TC10 at VMworld 2009, booth 2444, in San Francisco, CA, from August 28 through September 2, 2009.  Follow Devon IT updates from VMworld 2009 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonIT.

For more information about Devon IT, thin client computing, or virtualization, or to arrange for a demonstration, email info@devonit.com or call 610-757-4220 or 888-524-9382. Information is also available at www.devonit.com.

The Technology Solutions Tour enables resellers, hardware manufacturers, software publishers and Tech Data to engage one another, build stronger partnerships and develop strategies to profitably capitalize on the industry’s latest technology trends. Devon IT will demo its TC5 and TC2 thin clients, as well as its SafeBook LVO® mobile thin client model, for resellers.

“Tech Data is one of the industry’s top distributors, and we are proud to work with them to get our thin clients in the hands of users across the country,” said Joe Makoid, President, Devon IT. “The TC5, operating with Intel’s powerful, newly-designed processor, sets the thin client computing industry standard with high-performance Internet and application capabilities that rival the user experiences delivered by traditional desktop PCs. We look forward to sharing this technology with our business partners at this tour event.”

For more information about the Technology Solutions Tour visit http://techdata.com/content/events/tst/default.aspx. For more information about Devon IT, thin client computing, or virtualization, or to arrange for a demonstration, email info@devonit.com or call 610-757-4220 or 888-524-9382. Information is also available at www.devonit.com.