VMware reaches new Horizon

VMware has announced Horizon 6, an integrated solution that helps businesses manage most types of enterprise applications and desktops, including laptops, virtual desktops and applications and employee-owned PCs.

VMware believes that Horizon 6 is the industry’s most comprehensive desktop solution with the centralised management of any type of enterprise application and desktop, including physical desktops and laptops, virtual desktops and applications and employee-owned PCs.

Customers want to transform their applications and enterprise desktops for the Mobile Cloud Era – extending access to employees on any device, from anywhere via a comprehensive solution that is simple, secure and cost effective,” said Nick Black, Business Manager, End User Computing, Sub Saharan Africa, VMware. “VMware Horizon 6 addresses these issues and delivers amazing new capabilities to our customers at nearly the same cost as a traditional, physical desktop. Horizon 6 represents a major product milestone that continues the rapid pace of innovation from VMware, and helps customers take the next step in their desktop journey.

An integrated solution

Innovations in application delivery, datacentre-to-device management, storage optimisation and flexible hybrid delivery in VMware Horizon 6 make enterprise desktops and applications easier and more cost-effective to deliver, protect and manage. Multiple access points such as laptops, tablets, smartphones and an array of other employee-owned devices are putting pressure on IT departments to deliver a high level of service and access without compromise.

VMware Horizon 6 introduces new capabilities that are integrated into a single solution that empower IT with a streamlined approach for managing Windows applications and desktops. With Horizon 6, enterprise applications and Windows operating systems are centrally managed so updates can be made in an agile and predictable manner. In addition, Horizon 6 enables entire desktops or just applications can be delivered in a flexible manner to end-users:

· Virtually for access from multiple locations and devices

· Physically by syncing the entire desktop image to end-user laptops for online and offline access

· Securely by delivering applications and content in a managed secure container to support Bring Your Own (BYO) PC scenarios.

Regardless of the use case, VMware Horizon 6 delivers a consistent, self-service user experience for access to enterprise applications through a unified workspace.

New capabilities in VMware Horizon 6 include:

•tPublished Applications and Virtual Desktops Delivered Through A Single Platform РVMware Horizon 6 offers streamlined management, end-user entitlement, and quick delivery of published Windows applications, RDS-based desktops and virtual desktops across devices and locations. The new capabilities are built on a single platform that is an extension of the market leading VDI solution, VMware Horizon View.

“Today’s announcement of VMware Horizon 6 continues our momentum in end-user computing, bringing the best solutions for desktop, mobile and content collaboration via a secure virtual workspace,” adds Black. “As a recognised innovator in the industry, VMware’s ambition is to provide end-users their apps and content served to them securely – anywhere, anyplace and anytime – whether on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Jon Howe, systems architect, Parata Systems added: “We like VMware’s pace of innovation in end-user computing and their vision of delivering desktops and applications on a single platform. Mobility and easy access is important to end-users and IT administrators alike, and Horizon 6’s ability to provide both with a consistent user experience through a unified workspace across any device was a very attractive proposition.

“Governance and compliance can only work if end-users stay within the confines of IT, but end-users are savvy with more options than ever before to work outside the purview of IT,” said Brett Waldman, research manager, End-User Computing, IDC. “If IT can provide the resources, capabilities and support end-users need, they will be less likely to stray, so IT needs vendors, such as VMware, to provide simpler, more agile solutions. With VMware Horizon 6’s new ability to deliver published applications in addition to virtual desktops, IT can deliver just what end-users need, or more importantly – wants.

New Editions to Support Modern Deployment Models

VMware customers can adopt published applications and virtual desktops based on their needs and environment. Three new editions of VMware Horizon will be available to customers, including:

· Horizon View Standard Edition: Delivers simple, high-performance, VDI-based virtual desktops with a great user experience.

· Horizon Advanced Edition: Offers the lowest cost solution for published and virtual applications and desktops using optimised storage from VMware Virtual SAN, central image management and a unified workspace for managing and delivering all applications and desktops.

· Horizon Enterprise Edition: Delivers a cloud-ready solution for desktops and applications with advanced cloud-like automation and management capabilities for hybrid cloud flexibility.

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