VMWare Horizon Suite Mobility Platform To Launch in Q1

VMWare has launched a new virtualisation package that delivers business applications to various mobile devices, in support of the bring your own device (BYOD) trend.

Horizon Suite will allow businesses to deploy enterprise applications, data and desktops to Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices, as well as Windows RT and Windows Phone systems through a browser. The suite is designed to give system administrators the ability to set up profiles for individual users that dictate what data, applications and subscriptions they are able to access.

It is being touted as a “comprehensive platform for workers that will connect end users to their data, applications and desktops without sacrificing IT security and control”, comprising Horizon View 5.2, Horizon Mirage 2 and a brand new product, Horizon Workspace 1.0.

VMWare Horizon Suite announced

Workspace 1.0 manages data, applications and desktops on any compatible device and lets companies add additional users and apps without the need for configuration.

View 5.2 manages the virtual desktop infrastructure and access to remote desktops using HTML5 browsers and is capable of hardware accelerated 3D graphics, gesturing capabilities and provides HTML access to view desktops and support for Microsoft Lync. Mirage 4.0 optimises desktop services and includes image management and virtualisation for application packaging and backup.

“Our customers are looking for a comprehensive, enterprise-class solution to empower workers in a world where the proliferation of devices and consumer cloud services have changed user expectations, while putting IT security and governance at risk,” said Boaz Chalamish, senior vice president and general manager, End-User Computing, VMware. “VMware virtualization has helped hundreds of thousands of customers change what is possible in the data centre, and we believe it can have the same transformative impact in end-user computing. The VMware Horizon Suite will help our customers accelerate their journeys from the PC Era to the Multi-Device Era.”

The Horizon Suite will be available in the first quarter of 2013 with licenses starting at $300 (£196) per user.

Last month, VMWare announced that it was cutting almost 1,000 employees despite seeing year-on-year revenue and profit rises.

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