Wyse Technology recently announced new versions of its thin-client operating system and device-management software, plus an application that the company says can stream software components to any thin client on demand.
The products signal a shift by the company away from its traditional focus as a hardware vendor supplying companies with desktop terminals that display server-based applications. Wyse plans to be more of a software supplier for those terminals and other thin-client devices, the company says. Its goal is to create applications that can set up and manage a thin-client device, based on the user and its use.
But other companies have introduced similar capabilities. One is archrival Neoware Systems, which bought a French software vendor in April and recently introduced its Image Manager. Ardence also streams both operating system and application components to clients. Others, such as SoftonNet, Softricity and Stream Theory, focus on streaming just the application.
Wyse’s goal is to build on the current deployment of thin clients in the enterprise. Today, companies typically deploy thin clients to minimize the costs, the administrative headaches and the risks of virus attacks inherent in running and maintaining full-fledged Windows PCs.
In the future, companies will benefit from stateless thin clients that eliminate hard disks and flash memory, that can be configured by the network when they come online, that can be fed just those software components needed at any given time and that are immune to viruses, says John Kish, CEO at Wyse.
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