Thursday, 13 March 2008

Microsoft Acquires Kidaro, Expands Desktop Virtualization Investment

Microsoft Corp. made public on Wednesday of its intended acquisition of Kidaro, a provider of desktop virtualization solutions for enterprises.

In combining Kidaro’s virtualization technology with its suite of desktop management tools--known as the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance-- the Redmond, Washington based Microsoft said it will enable IT professionals to optimize their desktop infrastructure by providing management capabilities for Virtual PCs, streamlining deployments and easing application compatibility issues.

“The acquisition of Kidaro is an important component of our virtualization strategy, and it delivers a powerful new tool to help enterprise customers optimize their desktops,” said Shanen Boettcher, general manager of Windows product management at Microsoft.

“Virtual PCs can help businesses address a number of challenges around application compatibility, mobility and business continuity. Kidaro’s seamless user interface and management capabilities allow enterprises to more easily use and manage Virtual PCs. Incorporating Kidaro’s innovative solutions into the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack further enables virtualization across the enterprise, and is another example of how we are helping customers keep up with the changing needs of their business.”

In a statement released on its website, Microsoft said that adding Kidaro’s desktop virtualization capabilities to the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack suite will provide Microsoft Software Assurance customers who have purchased the add-on subscription with the enhanced ability to accelerate Windows Vista migration, easily deploy managed Virtual PCs to Windows desktops, drive business continuity, minimize tension between IT control and user flexibility, speed up user adoption and reduce IT investment in desktop image management.

“Virtualization technology has tremendous potential to help companies reduce costs and increase control over their desktops, while simultaneously delivering benefits to end users,” said Kevin Brown, chief executive officer of Kidaro.

Kidaro technologies will be incorporated into future updates of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance, which currently includes five key technologies that help enterprises manage their desktops namely; Microsoft Application Virtualization, Microsoft Asset Inventory Service, Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management, Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset and Microsoft System Center Desktop Error Monitoring.