Music Gadget: Windows coming to the iPhone through Citrix Systems (Exclusive to iPhoneWorld.ca)

While almost everyone agrees that Apple's iPhone version of the OS X operating system is as close to perfect as it gets save a few minor things that need improving, some folks are just used to using Windows, while others might need specialized programs that only run on Windows.

So these folks should be pleased to know that a company called Citrix Systems is currently trying to bring Windows over to the iPhone, well, sort of. Citrix is working on porting the ICA client, their version of Remote Desk Protocol, in order to allow display of virtual Windows desktops -on the iPhone- for users of XenApp and XenDesktop. XenApp and XenDesktop are virtual desktop solutions -- think VMWare. citrix iphone ica

This would allow customers to use Windows machines directly from their iPhones, thus enabling them to use programs that otherwise couldn't run on the iPhone. This would be good news for companies that have to work with custom made programs developed especially for their line of business.

Right now the release schedule is first half of '09. Once the ICA iPhone app is complete it will be distributed through the AppStore.

Thanks to SearchServerVirtualization
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Filed Under: News+ Tech News+ iPhone Programs

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1 COMMENT FOR WINDOWS COMING TO THE IPHONE THROUGH CITRIX SYSTEMS

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1. Adam | November 6th, 2008 at 9:58 am

Hi James,

Nice write up. Note the the plans for the Citrix iPhone app goes beyond the RDP/VNC apps that are already available and allows a user to launch a specific application to their iPhone without needing to bring a full desktop environment up on the iPhone, just as Citrix does for other endpoints it supports. Other very interesting use cases also being included.

Also note that the larger screen and resolution of the iPhone will allow users to run just about any application, not just custom apps on their iPhone. Note that the real use case hear is about data consumption, meaning allowing the end user to leverage their iPhone or other mobile device to securely access any document or data such as ERM/CRM data to their mobile device from the same application they use on their laptop delivered by Citrix today.

While we don't expect users to create a 20 page PowerPoint presentation from their iPhone, even though they could, we do expect users will find great value in being able to access all of the data they get from their laptops with Citrix XenApp today from their iPhone and other mobile devices.

Think of the use case you have today with email on your iPhone, most users in my opinion read email and do quicker replies. We are trying to extend this use case to other corporate applications and data beyond email. For example, you get an email to approve a task in SAP. The user can simply use their iPhone or other mobile device to launch SAP via Citrix XenApp from their iPhone and hit the "Accept" button without needing to boot up their laptop. Or they can review a very large word document without ever needing to download the actual document to the mobile device. Downloading corporate docs to mobile devices scare a lot of security folks that are trying to protect their IP. Citrix helps with these types security and compliance concerns as well, which have somewhat slowed mass adoption of mobile device usage with some companies to date.

Ya, you can also still access a full desktop, but the real value here in my opinion is to be able to quickly access and consume needed business data, and do so by leveraging the applications you already deliver with Citrix XenApp today.