IBM Introduces New Virtual Desktop Offering

ARMONK, N.Y., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced the Virtual Desktop for Smart Business, a new workforce mobility offering that provides anytime, anywhere access to personal desktops from mobile devices -- including tablets, netbooks, laptops and thin clients.

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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.  

"As IBM's latest smarter work offering, the Virtual Desktop expands the time and place where people can access information, contribute ideas and support customers," said Dan Cerutti, general manager, IBM Smart Business. "Together with our partners, we're bringing the power of virtual computing to smaller companies seeking greater agility while freeing up critical IT resources."

The IBM Virtual Desktop has self-configuring, self-managing and self-protecting features that enable easy installation and management, plus continuous backup and recovery. Whether visiting clients, checking inventory or making patient rounds at a hospital, the solution provides instant access to information, helping employees solve problems and speed decision-making.

"IBM continues to tackle the needs of smaller companies with powerful solutions that are easy to install, easy to manage and priced right," said Ken Espiau, Operations Director, Northcom Technologies, an IBM Business Partner. "With IBM's Virtual Desktop offering, there's only one console, one system and one implementation to make managing desktops much easier. Our clients can realize benefits of cost savings from the desktop of up to 40% while we're able to gain a recurring revenue stream on back end management."

The solution is offered as a pre-integrated, ready-to-run software package priced at $150 per user per year for a one year contract. IBM Virtual Desktop will be delivered through IBM Business Partners who will provide local consulting, networking and software infrastructure skills to ensure smooth installation. An early adopter program drew strong channel interest with well over 100 IBM Business Partners actively providing feedback and preparing to use the program to tap into the growing demand for desktop virtualization solutions.

"Many of our midsize clients lack the IT resources and time required to manage a traditional PC environment," said Steve Giondomenica, President of IBM Business Partner CMI (Chouinard & Myhre, Inc.) "IBM Virtual Desktop is an immediate, powerful and more secure solution that reduces complexity and cost -- the key adoption barriers in the industry."

IBM Virtual Desktop for Smart Business is available today in North America, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Poland.* IBM plans to make the offering available in China, India, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand at the end of Q1.  IBM Business Partners can take advantage of Virtual Desktop training and sales enablement resources at http://www.ibm.com/smartbusiness to get started providing solution bundles with System x server and storage configurations.

About Solutions for Smart Business from IBM

Solutions for Smart Business from IBM is a new family of offerings designed for small and medium size organizations with limited IT staff that want to take advantage of specialized IT business solutions without the complexity or cost of traditional technology packages. Sold through IBM's Business Partner channel, these offerings are designed to deliver quicker time to value through a ready-to-run package with usage-based, subscription pricing that combines pre-integrated components and flexible delivery options.

Solutions for Smart Business also includes the IBM Application Manager for Smart Business for comprehensive monitoring and reporting of IT infrastructure performance, including network, servers, and databases and the IBM Service Manager for Smart Business which provides service-desk capabilities through aligned service, request, incident, and problem management processes. Both offerings leverage powerful Tivoli software to help clients reduce costs by optimizing the productivity of operations staff through built-in problem solving tools.

*Pricing may vary in local markets.

SOURCE IBM