Hosted desktop provider Nasstar has opted for Citrix’s Cloud Centre (Citrix C3) to open up its cloud computing service to channel partners.

The white label service will enable channel partners to deliver hosted desktops to their customers, without the need for their own infrastructure to support the cloud-based services.

The relationship is part of the Citrix Service Provider programme. This allows partners to use Citrix virtualisation products to deliver their hosted offering. Under the terms of the programme, a monthly, usage-based pricing and support model is available.

Charles Black, chief executive of Nasstar, said: “Cloud computing is the dominant trend in technology right now. But high set-up costs put this potentially high-margin offering out of reach for smaller would-be service providers.

“With a package that includes back-office services and a management tool for the partner and end user – and the ease of delivery that Citrix provides – we have opened up the cloud market to the UK channel.”

The hosted desktop service provided by Nasstar offers a Microsoft business desktop via a browser. Using Citrix C3, Nasstar can offer an improved user experience to both resellers and their customers.

Kevin Bland, channel director at Citrix UK, said: “Many organisations are seeking to embrace the benefits of the pay-as-you-use model for IT delivery. In these straitened times it makes a lot of sense.

“With our flexible licensing model, service providers have the ‘right to use’ Citrix products as the underpinning of their delivery infrastructure, giving them the flexibility of a monthly pricing and licensing model. It makes the cloud a reality for many companies, which can now buy hosted desktops from innovative service providers such as Nasstar, which already understand their needs.”

Nasstar is already piloting the service with several VARS across the UK.

Mahmood Chaudhri, managing director of managed service provider Datrix, said: “Datrix chose to sell Hosted Desktop into our customer base because it ties in with our managed services support model, where everything is charged on a per-user basis every month with no upfront capital expenditure.

“Our Hosted Desktop customers have the flexibility of purchasing all of their support and software application requirements through a Citrix environment, offering a much improved user experience. Datrix and our customers are already reaping the benefits of this service.”