IBM Makes New Virtual Desktop Solution Available to Indian Market

IBM today announced the general availability of Virtual Desktop, a workforce mobility offering that provides anytime, anywhere access to personal desktops from mobile devices including tablets, net books, laptops and thin clients.

The IBM Virtual Desktop allows Windows or Linux desktops to be hosted and managed centrally, thus lowering the cost and complexity of managing PC environments through rapid deployment of new applications, automatic software updates and reducing the need for help desk requests. The Virtual Desktop for Smart Business, which includes VERDE software from Virtual Bridges, can be deployed on a customer's own infrastructure or through a Business Partner "private cloud" hosted environment. Available in India through IBM Business Partners such as ZSL and Ingram Micro, IBM Virtual Desktop V2.2 now enables users to enjoy a real high-definition experience while accessing audio and video files.

"As IBM's latest smarter work offering, the Virtual Desktop is a First in Series of Integrated Solutions for Midmarket Businesses. VDI, expands the time and place where people can access information, contribute ideas and support customers,” said Anoop Nambiar, Country Manager – Business Partner Organization, IBM India/SA, “Together with our partners, we're bringing the power of virtual computing to mid-sized companies seeking greater agility while freeing up critical IT resources.”

"IBM Virtual Desktop Solution addresses the growing complexities and business risks that midsize client’s face today -- helping them to achieve a secured work environment at a lowered TCO,” said Mr. Bimal Das- Senior Director Ingram Micro India Limited. “As a trusted technology partner, we're committed to providing this GEN2 VDI Solution to our clients through our SIs and with IBM in India." We will use our partnerships with front end devices like thin clients/ I-pads/ networking principals to provide complete end- to end Solution to our clients through our SIs.

New features in Virtual Desktop v. 2.2 include unprecedented high-definition multimedia support and enhanced work-anywhere capability with additional features that simplify management and drive down IT management costs. IBM Virtual Desktop built on VERDE 5.1 technology, provides an end-to-end desktop management offering that combines virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), integrated offline VDI (using an integrated client-side hypervisor), and remote branch capabilities. The offering supports both Windows and Linux Virtual desktops and can be used on a wide variety of devices -- including iPads, plus a variety of tablets, thin clients and netbooks – broadening the spectrum of user-options, including work-from-home employees, branch offices or field sales teams.

IBM Virtual Desktop for Smart Business closes the gaps between previous desktop and virtual desktop infrastructure approaches and is based on a key set of attributes designed to help clients get more out of every IT dollar faster.

•         Autonomic—self-configuring, -updating, -protecting, -diagnosing and - healing

•         Pre integrated—provides virtually all of the needed components, including built-in backup and disaster recovery capabilities; can be automatically configured

•         Flexible—open technology that can integrate with existing and future investments

•         Reliable—based on integrated and proven technologies tested and supported by IBM

•         Priced right—sized for the needs of midsize organizations with flexible pricing

Today's mobile, hyper-network-connected workforce expects that basic desktop services follow them wherever they go. The new version responds to users need for additional flexibility and portability -- delivering full USB 2.0 peripheral support for integrated offline and online VDI. Now available is a single user console from which users can access USB drives, keyboards and mice, printers, scanners, barcode readers, check printers, and more. These enhancements come as the demand for desktop virtualization grows and IBM channel partners are increasingly looking to build services around Virtual Desktop technology to drive new business. Increasingly, corporate IT departments are actively deploying virtualization technologies to reduce the number of assets they have, increase the utilization of the resources they keep and improve the flexibility to change the way those assets are used in the future.

Additional benefits in Virtual Desktop v. 2.2 include: Enhanced Monitoring and Reporting, Role and Task-based Provisioning And Simplified Management

About IBM

For more information on IBM, please visit:

http://www-07.ibm.com/in/vdi/smartbusiness/virtualdesktop/index.html