NComputing adds second UK distributor for SMB push

Actual Virtual joins e92plus in desktop virtualisation vendor's line-up

NComputing claims the market is rapidly coming around to the concept of desktop virtualisation after signing its second UK distributor in the form of Actual Virtual.

Actual Virtual will work alongside incumbent e92plus to push vSpace, NComputing's end-to-end desktop virtualisation solution aimed at the education and SMB markets. It will also carry the vendor's N-Series family of thin clients for Citrix, which are aimed at larger enterprises.

Jochen Polster, vice president of EMEA at NComputing, said the addition of a second distributor brings the UK into line with other large markets and will give its resellers more choice.

Growing demand for desktop virtualisation also spurred the partnership, he added.

"The demise of Windows XP has made people think twice about whether they really want to go down the desktop route again," Polster said.

"The centralisation of applications and data is also much more accepted than it was five years ago and that plays into the hands of desktop virtualisation."

NComputing is the world's fourth-largest thin-client vendor, according to IDC. Polster said 20 million people use its clients daily.

The Santa Clara-based outfit, which counts the UK, Germany and Spain as its key western European markets, currently works with about 20 UK resellers but Polster said the aim is to increase the quality rather than quantity of partners.

"Until about a year ago, we were a little bit lax in terms of how we qualified resellers," he said.

"We've changed that and now ensure we have resellers and SIs that have the technical capability to support our products and the right customer base. They will typically already have inroads into local schools, businesses or public administration, sell PCs or infrastructure to them, and just have to change the technology."