Devon IT to develop low-cost Thin Client specifically designed to take advantage of RemoteFX rich media

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.–Devon IT, Inc., a provider of thin client hardware and software solutions, today announced plans to develop and sell a new, low-cost zero client desktop device specifically designed to support Microsoft RemoteFX.

The Devon IT RemoteFX Zero Client – code named the TC Zero – will be among the first devices specifically designed for Microsoft’s RemoteFX software. The RemoteFX zero client will allow users to take advantage of rich media features such as 3D user interface, video, animations, and portable graphics stacks like Microsoft Silverlight and Flash, and a diverse array of client-side devices.

Hardware accelerated RemoteFX decoding provides excellent performance while allowing to keep power consumption to an extremely low level. Devon IT is working to design a new thin client that implements this RemoteFX decoding in hardware. Devon IT plans to release the Remote FZ TC Zero within 6 months after SP1 ships and Devon IT also plans an aggressive low price point to make the cost of acquisition and ultimately the total cost of ownership as low as possible.

“Customers will be excited about Devon IT’s plans to develop and sell a low-cost client desktop device designed to support Microsoft RemoteFX,” said Dai Vu, director of Virtualization Solutions Marketing at Microsoft Corp. “The collaboration between Microsoft and Devon IT will help deliver innovative RemoteFX solutions to enterprises looking to maximize their IT investment.”

“RemoteFX has no doubt raised the bar for delivering high-quality, PC-like desktop experiences to users of all intensity levels,” says Stephane Verdy, CTO for Devon IT. “We have worked with innovators like the Microsoft RemoteFX team for years, and we are ecstatic that we can once again provide customers with an advanced thin client solution.”

“Devon IT has been a recognized innovator in developing cutting-edge alternative desktop technologies for the last five years,” explained Joe Makoid, President, Devon IT. “When an iconic company like Microsoft, which has built the modern desktop computer industry into what it is today , announces technology like Microsoft RemoteFX it is a market setting and industry changing event. RemoteFX-based products and technologies from Devon IT will fundamentally help our customers increase their desktop computing productivity and reduce their costs.”

Historically the end-user experience has been a factor limiting the usability in some remote desktops. Microsoft RemoteFX gives an enhanced user experience regardless of the type of application (3D, web based video streaming, etc). Since RemoteFX relies on server-side rendering, it enables Devon IT to build simplified thin clients that do not need to be upgraded as new multimedia players or codecs are created. This allows customers to deploy low cost, highly secure, highly reliable and centrally manageable thin clients even to their most demanding users.

You can read the Microsoft announcement here.

The Microsoft Partner Page for RemoteFX is available here.

And a blog from Microsoft about RemoteFX by Max Hermann can be found here.

Devon IT is developing a Microsoft RemoteFX software client that will be integrated into its Devon Terminal System (DeTOS) and VDI Blaster products. The RemoteFX client will allow users to take advantage of rich media features such as 3D user interface, video, animations, and portable graphics stacks like Microsoft Silverlight and Flash, and a diverse array of client-side devices. This means that customers who purchase a Devon IT thin client such as the TC5 today will be able to upgrade DeTOS and take advantage of Microsoft RemoteFX when it becomes available.

“Devon IT has been a recognized innovator in developing cutting-edge alternative desktop technologies for the last five years,” explained Joe Makoid, President, Devon IT. “When an iconic company like Microsoft , which has built the modern desktop computer industry into what it is today , announces technology like Microsoft Remote FX it is a market setting and industry changing event. It is exciting for us to announce our full support of Microsoft Remote FX. The VDI Blaster, the Devon TC5, the E5400X SafeBook and the new Devon RemoteFX Zero client will provide our customers and business partners with powerful , graphically rich and energy efficient solutions for their desktop deployments. The RemoteFX-based products and technologies from Devon IT will fundamentally help our customers increase their desktop computing productivity and reduce their costs.”

Historically the end-user experience has been a factor limiting the usability in some remote desktops. Microsoft RemoteFX gives an enhanced user experience regardless of the type of application (3D, web based video streaming, etc). Since RemoteFX relies on server-side rendering, it enables Devon IT to build simplified thin clients that do not need to be upgraded as new multimedia players or codecs are created. This allows customers to deploy low cost, highly secure, highly reliable and centrally manageable thin clients even to their most demanding users.

“As organizations plan to deploy a centralized computing architecture with virtualized or session-based desktops, IT professionals want to deliver a premium user experience to connected workers,” said Mike Schutz, director of product management at Microsoft Corp. “The Microsoft RemoteFX feature in Windows Server will allow remote workers to access any type of application or screen content, including rich media and 3D applications. Companies such as Devon IT are offering a path to the future by investing in solutions today that will increase the flexibility and performance of a centralized desktop environment.”

Read Microsoft’s announcement, “Microsoft Accelerates Desktop Virtualization“.

“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