Today, at the worldwide launch of Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTXS) will give customers a sneak preview of its upcoming Citrix XenApp™ for Windows Server 2008. Citrix XenApp, the company’s flagship application virtualization product line – previously known as Citrix Presentation Server™ – is the industry’s de facto standard for delivering Windows-based applications with the best performance, security and cost savings. Traveling to 300 cities worldwide, the Microsoft 2008 Global Launch Wave represents the largest server launch in the company’s history, and is projected to reach over 250,000 IT pros in more than 26 countries. As a Platinum launch partner, Citrix will be demonstrating its support for Windows Server 2008 across its entire end-to-end virtualization product line as part of the worldwide launch tour.

XenApp is currently in beta testing with major Citrix and Microsoft customers worldwide. Early results are demonstrating that it continues to be the most agile and flexible way to manage and deliver all Windows-based applications. By supporting both Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, XenApp will enable customers to migrate to Windows Server 2008 more easily by allowing for mixed environments that leverage existing IT investments in server hardware and software throughout the transition.

“The debut of Windows Server 2008 represents a major milestone for Microsoft and brings significant technology enhancements to our mutual customers,” said Gordon Payne, senior vice president and general manager, Delivery Systems Division, Citrix Systems. “We have worked alongside Microsoft, tuning XenApp for this roll-out to ensure we are continuing to drive innovation on the Windows platform. Our end-to-end virtualization solutions – as part of the Citrix Delivery Center – leverage and enhance the new platform, providing the best way for IT organizations to deliver applications to their users.”

Microsoft and Citrix: Track Record for Delivering Leading Virtualization Solutions

For more than 18 years, Microsoft and Citrix have worked together to offer customers continual innovations on the Windows Platform. In addition to their longtime collaboration in application virtualization, the two companies recently extended their alliance to the adjacent desktop and server virtualization markets in January 2008 (see joint press release: http://www.citrix.com/English/NE/news/news.asp?newsID=1297129). As a result of this expanded relationship, Citrix will provide a complete end-to-end virtualization infrastructure – from servers to applications to desktops – for both Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. Through the alliance, Citrix and Microsoft are helping to ensure interoperability and cross compatibility with the Windows platform for server virtualization solutions with Citrix XenServer™, application virtualization solutions with Citrix XenApp and desktop virtualization solutions with Citrix XenDesktop™.

XenApp leverages the Microsoft Windows Server platform to create a comprehensive Windows-based application delivery solution that is both cost-effective and secure. It brings added dimensions of flexibility, manageability, security and performance to make application delivery the ideal choice to provide Windows-based applications to users. With the XenApp, XenServer and XenDesktop products all utilizing the Microsoft platform, Citrix and Microsoft have developed the broadest set of virtualization solutions through which customers can create truly dynamic IT infrastructures.

“Our customers have told us that the best virtualization solutions will be comprehensive, secure, and well-integrated with their Microsoft environments,” said Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft Corp. “We are excited to be working with Citrix to offer a complete virtualization roadmap that will enable truly dynamic datacenters and meet the critical business requirements of the future.”

Complete Application Delivery Solution

As part of the recently announced Citrix Delivery Center product family (see press release: http://www.citrix.com/English/NE/news/news.asp?newsID=1297126), XenApp represents the most complete application virtualization system available with the ability to virtualize applications on both the client side and server side. The XenApp product line stores all Windows-based applications in a single central store in the datacenter and then delivers them to end-users via innovative application virtualization technology. It can dynamically select either client-side or server-side application virtualization on demand to optimize app delivery based on the user, the application or the location (online or offline).