Software client

Citrix has released Receiver — a lightweight software client that makes it easy to access virtual desktops and applications on any device.

Much like a satellite or cable TV receiver in a broadcast media service, the device allows IT organisations to deliver desktops and applications as an on-demand service to any device in any location with a ‘high-definition’ experience.

As long as employees have the unit, IT no longer has to worry about whether they are delivering to a PC in the office, a Mac at home or an iPhone on the road. This radically simplifies desktop management and gives users more flexibility and independence in how and where they work.

Following an initial download and installation, the unit waits in the background and ‘listens’ for signals from the corporate ‘delivery centre’. This allows IT to deliver any application or desktop from Citrix Delivery Centre head-end controllers such as XenApp and XenDesktop to any device with a Receiver installed.

If employees want to access their work from a home PC or Mac laptop, they go to a URL given to them by IT and download a unit for that device as well. As long as Receiver is installed on a device, IT has control over security, performance and user experience, allowing them to deliver IT services on-demand.