Desktone announced the Desktone Virtual-D Platform, which is designed to enable service providers to offer hosted, subscription-based virtual desktops.

Desktone’s solution helps enterprises realize the full benefits of centralized virtual desktops without having to build and deploy the infrastructure internally. It reduces desktop TCO, transforming computing costs from fixed CAPEX to variable OPEX. Service providers benefit from optimizing use of their data center assets while delivering a new highly scalable, value-added service to customers.

“There’s a tremendous amount of industry interest in virtual desktop computing. It can reduce desktop costs, improve manageability and enhance security. However, because it is very difficult for enterprises to implement, wide-spread adoption has been slow,” said Harry Ruda, CEO, Desktone. “Desktone eliminates the complexity and speeds the on-ramp to virtual desktop computing by transforming desktops into a cost-effective, highly scalable subscription service.  We’re extremely excited about the opportunities this affords enterprises and service providers.”

“We wanted to transition to virtual desktops because of the potential cost savings, security and flexibility benefits,” said Carl Freeman, Director – GTI, Head of US Site Support, Merrill Lynch.  “Desktone’s solution is managed in a single framework, hosted through service providers, and built upon an open architecture that enables us to swap in best-in-class virtualization technologies as they become available.”

“Using Wyse thin clients with Desktone’s Virtual-D Platform, customers can achieve a meaningful reduction in capital and operating expenses while realizing the promise of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) computing,” said Ricardo Antuna, Vice President of Business Development, Wyse Technology. “Desktone’s DaaS approach, when coupled with our thin clients, offers enterprises a turnkey VDI solution where all desktops can be managed and run centrally for greater overall efficiency.” 

"Large service providers -- already operating in highly competitive markets -- are seeing new Web-based services spring up all around them while traditional communications services diminish in revenue potential. Delivering the end-user PC experience as an Internet service -- with rapid provisioning of myriad existing applications, email and data storage assets -- offers a lifeline tothese providers," said Dana Gardner, principal analyst, Interarbor Solutions. "By targeting the largest-scale performance and integration needs of service providers -- and their enterprise-class customers -- Desktone is turning desktop as a service from a vision into both a provider business opportunity and a huge cost-saver for user organizations."

Desktone Virtual-D Platform
The Virtual-D Platform simplifies large-scale virtual desktop provisioning and management, enables greater protection of corporate desktop assets, and delivers consistent and reliable desktop service levels—all while reducing desktop total cost of ownership by $300- $800/desktop/year. It is the only solution that integrates all desktop virtualization layers through a single, automated self–service platform, and enables desktops to be delivered as a subscription service.

Desktone Virtual-D Platform - 2
Desktone’s DaaS model consists of two distinct tiers: enterprise and service provider. The Virtual-D Platform integrates all VDI functionality while separating the enterprise and service provider tiers. This allows enterprises to manage a virtual desktop environment supported by physical resources owned and maintained by a third-party, and that reside either at the enterprise or at a service provider.

The Virtual-D Platform is a set of components and services that align with the enterprise and service provider tiers, enabling the delivery of highly scalable DaaS environments. The two tiers are tied together with Desktone’s Access Fabric – a set of distributed services that provides the association between authorized users and their virtual desktops.

Enterprise Tier:

• Desktone Virtual-D Enterprise Center
• Desktone Virtual-D Portal 
  

Service Provider Tier:

• Desktone Virtual-D Element
• Desktone Service Grid
• Desktone Access Fabric