Intel and Microsoft to improve business PCs
IT giants join forces for initiative
Intel and Microsoft are aiming to make managing business PCs easier by incorporating new technologies into desktops and notebooks.
The chip giant has said it will align the next generation of its vPro technology (codenamed Weybridge) with the newly released Microsoft System Center and include new PC management standards. Intel claims that one of the key benefits will be increased protection from viruses. The cornerstone of the new version is Intel Active Management Technology, which allows remote diagnosis and PC repair even if the system is turned off or suffering from a crashed operating system or hard drive.
Weybridge will add support for the new Web Services Management (WS-MAN) standard, which alongside Active Management Technology should reduce the spread of viruses and worms. WS-MAN is a standards-based method of accessing and managing PC fleets. Weybridge will also adopt an upcoming desktop mobile work group specification for interoperability across PC hardware and software developed by the distributed management task force.
Intel vPro will support Microsoft’s System Center Operations Manager 2007, which monitors system health, and System Center Essentials 2007, which is targeted specifically at SMEs.
Kirill Tatarinov, vice-president of Microsoft Windows enterprise management division, said: “The mixture of technologies raises manageability to a new level and significantly lowers the customers’ overall cost of ownership. It’s great news for our mutual customers and partners.
“Through our partnership with Intel we are able to ensure that customers who implement Intel Active Management Technology-based systems are fully manageable by System Center solutions. Intel’s support of WS-MAN ensures that the combination of our solutions allows customers to handle situations over a simple, low-cost connection that previously required a desk-side visit.”
Robert Crooke, Intel vice-president, business client group, said: “Intel vPro technology combined with System Center solutions addresses IT professionals’ needs to reduce cost and increase productivity. Our joint leadership with Microsoft around WS-MAN sets a milestone for built-in standards-based manageability that will help solve the problems that businesses face with their PC fleets.”
Weybridge Intel vPro technology is expected to ship to customers in the second half of this year.