Citrix Systems on Wednesday said it’s developing an application and desktop virtualization solution optimized for Intel Core 2 desktops and Centrino 2 laptops with Intel vPro technology, under the code name Project Independence.
Specifically, Citrix plans to develop a new class of virtualization solutions that optimize the delivery of applications and desktops to millions of Intel-powered devices. Citrix’s goal is to reduce desktop management costs, a message that may resonate with corporations in a down economy.
Citrix is positioning the product as a first-of-its-kind hypervisor-based virtualization solution that offers centralized desktop virtualization with a personalized PC environment. In practical terms, that means both mobile and office workers can take advantage of enterprise-scale virtualization without sacrificing security, manageability, ease of use, performance or mobility, according to Citrix.
“Extending that collaboration to the client will enable our Citrix Delivery Center infrastructure to communicate directly with millions of Intel-based devices, changing the game in desktop virtualization in a way that benefits customers of both companies,” said N. Louis Shipley, group vice president and general manager of the XenServer product group at Citrix.
A Distinct Approach
At the core of Citrix’s new solution is bare-metal Xen-based desktop hypervisor optimized for Intel Virtualization Technology and other features of Intel vPro technology. The new client hypervisor aims to enable IT professionals to dynamically stream a centrally managed corporate desktop and applications onto a secure, isolated client-based virtual machine. Citrix said Project Independence will offer a new level of cost savings and IT agility.
Citrix said its approach is different than existing products because it caches and executes desktop and application software directly on the PC client. The combination of centralized desktop and application management with a secure, personalized and mobile user experience aims to reduce the cost of managing an increasingly mobile workforce while augmenting security and always-on access to corporate…