Citrix Embraces Apples iPhoneCitrix Embraces Apples iPhone

Many small and medium businesses do not have the staff, the expertise, or the desire to manage a wide range of different end user systems. Citrix has been a popular choice in this market segment because its products centrally control a wide variety of desktops. The vendor tried to solidify its position by making application downloading simpler and adding support for Apples iPhone.Citrix made a couple of announcements at its annual conference. The vendors new client software Citrix Receiver relies on Citrix Delivery Center, head controllers like Citrix XanApp or Ctrix XenDesktop to deliver applications to desktops, laptops or iPhones. Features supported include online and off-line application usage, virtual desktop delivery, secure access control, password management, app acceleration, multimedia acceleration, service-level monitoring and voice communications.

On the Apple front, Citrix announced a version of Citrix Receiver that downloads business software to the popular smartphone. While the device was first geared to consumers, it has become a popular option in many businesses. Recognizing this, Citrix has been ahead of the pack and can use its Apple support as a product differentiator. In addition, Citrix announced Dazzle, a XenApp add-on application that mimics the Apples iTunes store and provides users with a self-service interface so they can choose and install new business applications whenever they wish.

Citrix was able to build a viable business by focusing on central management of distributed systems. Recently advances, such as virtualization, have blurred the delimiters between its approach and traditional desktop computing. Citrix is trailing virtualization competitors in areas, such as the ability to run a number of virtual systems on one physical server. The new product enhancements are designed to help the company drive back their recent intrusions on its turf and keep small and medium businesses interested in its products.

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