Wyse Technology, the global leader in thin computing and client virtualization, today announced that its customer Centene Corporation has successfully deployed Wyse Viance^TM desktop appliances in its new virtualized infrastructure. Wyse Viance desktop appliances are used to support Centene's growing business reduce IT costs, and ensure seamless call center operations in their Citrix® XenApp^TM environment.  

Centene, a Fortune 1000 business, is a leading healthcare enterprise providing programs and related services to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid and other government-funded healthcare plans. Every year for the past 10 years, Centene has experienced a 20 to 24 percent growth in business. This rapid growth impacted the IT group's ability to support Centene's call centers in nine states.

Wyse Viance desktop appliances were implemented in conjunction with XenApp Windows® application delivery system to manage applications in the datacenter and deliver them as an on-demand service to users at its call centers. This virtualized infrastructure enables Centene to better manage the company's rapid growth, reduce IT costs, and ensure seamless call center operations. Centene is looking to adopt Citrix® XenDesktop^TM in the near future.

Wyse Viance desktop appliances deliver rich multimedia - such as smooth video and audio playback - in a XenDesktop session. The latest release, Wyse Viance 1.5, features advanced peripheral virtualization, enabling users to connect and use USB devices in a virtual client environment as easily as a traditional PC. As a result, users can now access hundreds of USB devices including printers, scanners, storage devices, and handhelds with the XenDesktop environment.

In addition, Wyse Viance 1.5 provides better central management capabilities, making it easier to manage, update, and even service any device from one central location. This simplifies provisioning of software, updates, upgrades, patches, and fixes, and helps to better manage licenses and usage, by tracking both automatically.

"Our new infrastructure is helping us to serve our clients and our members, taking calls promptly, answering questions and processing paperwork accurately, protecting confidential data, and ensuring staff can stay productive no matter what technical issues arise," said Keith Bernier, senior director of infrastructure services at Centene. "It's an infrastructure that can help us grow while maintaining our profitability."

Wyse Viance desktop appliances have eliminated the time and travel involved with IT managing remote PCs. And because these devices relay data back to the data center instead of storing it on the device itself, they have also dramatically reduced the potential for exposure of confidential PHI (protected health information) data. By law, Centene must report any breaches of PHI-and avoid such breaches, or risk losing clients.

"Wyse Viance desktop appliances are ideal for organizations like Centene using XenApp and planning to adopt XenDesktop," said Sumit Dhawan, vice president of product marketing, XenDesktop product group, Citrix Systems. "Wyse Viance and XenDesktop together provide a high-definition user experience with advanced peripheral support and rich multimedia performance.  Companies now have an even more comprehensive solution for delivering desktops to office workers with the best user experience, simplest administration and lowest cost of ownership."

Centene plans to eliminate most of the company's PCs by adding hundreds of additional Wyse Viance desktop appliances in the near future.

"Centene has taken a proactive approach to managing its growth with the addition of Wyse virtual clients, playing a key role in the company's ability to scale while continuing to provide exceptional services to customers. It will also simplify Centene's transition from traditional PCs to energy-saving "green" desktop appliances," said Jeff McNaught, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer for Wyse Technology. "With Wyse devices, Centene is well positioned to meets its present and future business objectives."

Wyse will be showcasing the Wyse Viance family of devices and other offerings at the Citrix Summit & Synergy 2009 event, booth #208, taking place from May 3-7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.