VMware and Citrix Launch Workforce Mobility Solutions

The mobile device management market continues to heat up, as VMware and Citrix expand product offerings to help manage personal laptops used in the workplace and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives.

VMware Horizon Suite

VMware (VMW) unveiled the VMware Horizon Suite, a comprehensive platform for workforce mobility that will connect end users to their data, applications and desktops on any device without sacrificing IT security and control. In addition to updates to Horizon View and Horizon Mirage products, VMware introduced VMware Horizon Suite, which will enable IT organizations to empower users with a secure, easy-to-manage virtual workspace that delivers a consistent, compelling experience across devices.

“Our customers are looking for a comprehensive, enterprise-class solution to empower workers in a world where the proliferation of devices and consumer cloud services have changed user expectations, while putting IT security and governance at risk,” said Boaz Chalamish, senior vice president and general manager, End-User Computing, VMware. “VMware virtualization has helped hundreds of thousands of customers change what is possible in the datacenter, and we believe it can have the same transformative impact in end-user computing. The VMware Horizon™ Suite will help our customers accelerate their journeys from the PC Era to the Multi-Device Era.”

As a unified solution the Horizon suite will combine a desktop virtualization solution with technologies that VMware has built from the ground up to support a mobile, collaborative workforce. Horizon Workspace was also introduced, as a new product that will combine data, applications and desktops into a single aggregated workspace, that can be securely delivered on any device.

Citrix launches XenMobile MDM

Citrix (CTXS) announced XenMobile MDM, an enterprise mobile device management solution that gives users device choice while also enabling IT to meet its management and compliance requirements. XenMobile MDM provides the foundation to address these needs through role-based management, configuration and security of corporate and employee-owned devices. The product is directly integrated with Microsoft Active Directory and public key infrastructure systems, as well as security information and event management tool.

"In today's complex enterprise mobility environment that includes a mix of corporate and employee-liable devices, companies need solutions that allow them to manage devices, data and apps," said Stephen Drake, Program VP, Mobile Enterprise at IDC.  "The addition of an MDM solution to the Citrix MAM and data management capabilities create a complete solution. By offering a platform for mobile enterprise management that gives options, Citrix can help give customers the peace of mind that, if their needs change, the platform can adjust."

In addition to XenMobile MDM, Citrix now also offers a Mobile Solutions Bundle for Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM). The Mobile Solutions Bundle is comprised of XenMobile MDM and CloudGateway and eliminates the need for multiple point solutions from other vendors.