The Open Virtual Client desktop is a combination of IBM’s Smart Client desktop software, Canonical’s Ubuntu Linux servers and  Linux desktop, and Virtual Bridges’ VERDE Virtual Desktop  Infrastructure (VDI )offering.

VERDE 2.0 delivers several industry firsts, including:

·         Addresses both private cloud and  public cloud requirements.

·          Meets both the needs of the connected user and the disconnected user.

·          Simultaneously and seamlessly manages both Windows and Linux desktop sessions.

With today's announcement, VERDE 2.0 goes beyond virtualizing the desktop to give users significant new functionality: providing  them software access when the users are disconnected from the Internet. VERDE 2.0 accomplishes this by integrating a lightweight, client-side hypervisor based on a new  Self-Managing Auto Replicating Technology (SMART) protocol.  The SMART protocol synchronizes a replicated cache running on the client-side hypervisor with the  managed image on the server, the same  image that is used to populate VDI sessions.

The Open Virtual Client desktop offers users of private or public clouds the ability to lower costs by deploying a Microsoft-alternative in either the whole organization or for particular user segments, and this can be done smoothly over time. Because VERDE supports both Linux and  Microsoft Windows  guest sessions, organizations can broadly realize the benefits of VDI , whether they move to Linux desktops or not. They can also gain additional cost savings that come from moving some user segments to Linux desktops. Introducing thin clients, where appropriate, can further increase cost saving opportunities.

The IBM Open Collaboration Client Solution (OCCS) includes open standards-based email, word processing, spreadsheets, unified communication, social networking and more, providing users with exceptional productivity application alternatives. IBM’s smart work client software is based on IBM Lotus Symphony, IBM Lotus Notes and Lotus applications. IBM Lotus Symphony supports the Open Document Format (ODF) standard, the basis for global document interoperability.

 “With increasing scrutiny on costs in organizations of all sizes, Linux desktops are gaining more ground, and the advent of the netbook computer is accelerating that,” said Bob Sutor, vp of Linux and Open Source, IBM Software Group. “The cost advantages of moving even a modest segment of users to Linux are very attractive, and virtualizing the desktop delivers even greater cost efficiencies and easier IT management. In today's economy, it's smart to investigate Linux on the desktop and Virtual Bridges’ VERDE is a great way to do it.”

“Virtual Bridges VERDE 2.0 is a great new release,” said Andi Mann, VP of Research with Enterprise Management Associates (EMA), a leading industry analyst.”  The Linux back-end means a low price point, the architecture is inherently scalable, and support for both online and offline users is extremely flexible. With partners like IBM and Canonical, Virtual Bridges is bringing out a very strong solution.”

"Ubuntu users can now confidently deploy best of breed Linux desktop solutions not only in traditional desktop scenarios, but now in a virtual desktop infrastructure -- or desktop cloud-based deployments," said Steve George, director of Corporate Services at Canonical. "VERDE 2.0 helps decrease cost by optimizing existing resources -- allowing businesses of any size to integrate Linux into their IT environment without disrupting operations."

“VERDE 2.0 will allow us to finally make the move to VDI with its ability to also manage our disconnected users”, said Yoshio Suga, President of Orizon, a Japanese technology firm. “We have been reluctant to deploy VDI due to cost issues of other solutions. VERDE 2.0 will be perfect for us.”

VERDE provides protection aginst viruses, malware and other damage while users are disconnected. If a session is corrupted by malware, the user can restart the session and the session is launched from the write-protected replicated cache of the managed image, on the local disk. This ability eliminates costly help desk intervention and makes the environment  malware-resistant.

Managed Service Providers like Midas Networks are finding tremendous advantages in the capabilities of VERDE 2.0.

“VERDE 2.0 automates for us several issues that typically drive up our costs – malware recovery, implementing patches and updates and provisioning new users”, said Ken Tooke, CEO of Midas Networks. “With the addition of a client-side hypervisor in VERDE 2.0 we can now offer our services to a wider population than with traditional VDI only. Running VERDE as part of OVC has also been attractive to our customers looking to lower their costs. The IBM Smart Client is an excellent alternative to expensive MS applications.”

“Adding the ability to manage disconnected users alongside VDI users is another “first” for Virtual Bridges and really changes the game in the VDI space” said Jim Curtin, president and CEO of Virtual Bridges. “It moves the state of the art beyond VDI to really becoming Desktop Management Infrastructure.”

 http://vbridges.com.

Licensing

VERDE 2.0 offers the simplest licensing in the industry with a complete offering available for one simple, paid-up, per seat price. All of the components are included in this hassle-free licensing model. VERDE 2.0 is available from partners as an Open Virtual Client bundle. The VERDE 2.0 solution is also available directly from Virtual Bridges and its partners. VERDE pricing is $50 per seat for 1000 seats or more.