Windows open for VDI bonanza

Wyse urges channel to make the most of Windows 7 refresh cycle and the move to virtual desktops before time runs out

Time is running out: Current refresh deman will not last forever

Thin-client vendor Wyse has urged resellers to get on board the virtual desktop bandwagon before end user demand for Windows 7 upgrades starts to tail off.

The vendor says the desktop refresh cycle prompted by the operating system’s release last year has caused many end users to migrate to virtual machines.

David Angwin, EMEA marketing director at Wyse, said: “The whole area of desktop virtualisation is really gaining momentum. Over the past few years, we have seen a lot of proof of concepts and these are now turning into real projects.”

Angwin urged VARs do all they can to capitalise on the interest Windows 7 has generated in desktop virtualisation before it starts to wane.

“The next year or two is going to be a peak time for virtual desktop projects because of Windows 7,” he said. “VARs need to seize that opportunity because once a hardware refresh has taken place, it is unlikely that a company will undergo another for several years.”

However, it is not just Windows 7 that is causing an upswing in interest in desktop virtualisation. Great strides have been made in ensuring the user experience with a virtual desktop is the same as when using a physical machine, said Angwin.

“The technology is helping and people are getting a better handle on making the cost model for desktop virtualisation work,” he said.

“Wyse pioneered a lot of the software technology several years ago to address problems people experienced when using multimedia, voice over IP and USB peripherals in these environments. These are kinks a lot of the industry players have been working to iron out.”

Krishna Subramanian, chief operating officer at Wyse partner Kaviza, said VARs should emphasise the cost benefits of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

“Windows 7 presents a tremendous opportunity for end users to migrate to virtual desktops, especially when the total cost to deploy one is often cheaper than the cost of a PC upgrade,” she said.