IBM gets virtual

Big Blue invites Business Partners to get on board following launch of virtual desktop offering

IBM has taken the wraps off its virtual desktop offering as it looks to grab a share of the growing mobility market.

Virtual Desktop for Smart Business, which is sold through IBM Business Partners and launched in an initial 10 countries including the UK, offers users of Windows or Linux desktops anytime, anywhere access to personal desktops from mobile devices including tablets, netbooks, laptops and thin clients.

It can be offered through a private cloud-hosted environment or be deployed directly to a customer’s own infrastructure.

Dan Cerutti, general manager of IBM Smart Business, said: “Virtual Desktop expands the time and place where people can access information, contribute ideas, and support customers.

"Together with our partners, we’re bringing the power of virtual computing to smaller companies seeking greater agility while freeing up critical IT resources.”

Big Blue ran an early adopter programme with its partners which it claimed saw more than 100 Business Partners actively providing feedback and preparing to use the programme to fulfil growing demand for desktop virtualisation.

Steve Giondomenica, president of IBM Business Partner Chouinard and Myhre, said: “Many of our mid-sized clients lack the IT resources and time required to manage a traditional PC environment. The virtual desktop is an immediate, powerful and more secure solution that reduces complexity and cost – the key adoption barriers in the industry."

Ken Espiau, operations director at IBM Business Partner Northcom Technologies, added: “IBM continues to tackle the needs of smaller companies with solutions that are easy to install, manage and are priced right.

“With IBM’s Virtual Desktop offering, there is only one console, one system and one implementation to make managing desktops much easier. Our clients can realise the benefits of cost savings of up to 40 per cent, while we are able to gain a recurring revenue stream on back end management.”

IBM is offering training and sales enablement to other resellers interested in joining the programme and offering solution bundles with System x server and storage configurations. To find out more, click here.