Frost & Sullivan, a leading market research firm, and NComputing, Inc., the leading provider of desktop virtualization hardware and software, announced today that based on a recent analysis of the desktop virtualization space, Frost & Sullivan recognizes NComputing®, Inc. with the 2008 North American Frost & Sullivan Green Excellence of the Year Award in the thin client computing systems domain. The company’s virtual desktops provide efficient, eco-friendly computing for a fraction of the cost of traditional PCs. NComputing has taken a remarkably simple and effective approach to reducing the global impact of computers on the environment.

In the wake of rising oil and energy prices as well as greater awareness of the ramifications of using non-renewable energy sources, there has been a heightened sense of corporate social responsibility for going green. The technology sector, realizing that it increasingly resembles the ‘gas guzzler’ entities of the automotive industry, is fast making improvements to its computing infrastructure to increase energy efficiency and reduce electronic waste (e-waste) or waste from electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE).

Today’s desktop computers offer extremely powerful performance since they are equipped with blazing 2 GHz dual-core processors and high-performance memory. However, typical users rarely need more than 5 percent of their computing capacity – the rest is wasted. NComputing seized on the idea that if the excess power could be shared by many users simultaneously, it would be possible to achieve significant environmental and cost savings.

The NComputing virtualization solution comprises both hardware and software and uses a shared PC as the fountainhead of processing power for seven to 30 virtual desktops. The processor power is virtualized and shared through a small NComputing access device to which each user’s monitor, keyboard, and peripherals are connected. The complete solution starts at $70 per seat.

“The NComputing virtualization software is responsible for transmitting the signals from the shared PC to the virtual desktop and back to the shared PC,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Achyuthanandan Sampath. “The virtual desktops are inexpensive and reliable because they do not have a central processing unit (CPU), memory, or moving parts such as fans.”

NComputing access devices consume as little as 1 watt to 5 watts of electricity, a huge improvement over a conventional PC, which normally needs 110 to 200 watts of electricity. Considering more than 850 million PCs are in use every day all over the world, the NComputing solution has the potential to save up to 120 billion kWh of electricity per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an astounding 96 million metric tons.

A collateral benefit of NComputing’s energy-sipping solution is the impact on air conditioning systems. As PCs normally generate considerable heat, it is necessary to cool rooms with a large number of PCs. Since NComputing access devices generate 98 percent less heat than conventional PCs, they reduce the need for constant cooling and thus, save power and further reduce the carbon footprint.

In addition to its impact on the carbon footprint, NComputing also reduces e-waste. Its small access devices weigh just 0.15 kg – significantly lighter than the 9.5 kg of traditional PCs. The global impact of leveraging NComputing would mean 6.7 million metric tons of e-waste could be eliminated.

“Another striking advantage is that NComputing access devices need no upgrades since their performance is entirely dependent on the shared PC,” observes Sampath. “Whenever there is need for a PC upgrade, only the shared PC has to be changed. This significantly lowers support costs.”

“Over a million NComputing seats have been deployed at 20,000 organizations in the education, manufacturing, finance, and government sectors,” notes Sampath. “Though it was not originally developed for educational institutions, school IT administrators were the first to adopt NComputing technology, which is now gaining a following in the enterprise sector due to its remarkable eco-friendliness, efficiency, and low cost.”

In future, the company is planning to penetrate more markets and develop solutions for implementation in televisions and set top boxes to enable “cloud-based” computing at a fraction of the environmental and financial cost of traditional desktop PCs.

Each year Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated superior technological advancement, which is aligned with a sustainable and environmentally conscious objective within its industry sector. This Award signifies the company’s identification of a unique and revolutionary solution with significant environmental benefits, while presenting tremendous market potential simultaneously. The Award also indicates that the company’s overall business strategy is sound and poised for success.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.