HOUSTON, TX – Citrix Synergy, May 20, 2008 – IGEL Technology, the world’s third largest thin client vendor, today announced that it will demonstrate one of the first prototypes of a Citrix XenDesktop™-tuned Appliance in a stylized form factor at Citrix Synergy™, May 20-23, 2008 in Houston, TX.  A Citrix partner for more than ten years, IGEL is also outfitting its entire product line with IGEL’s One-Click-XenDesktop Appliance Feature, which means the company will offer the world’s largest range of appliances that support Citrix XenDesktop with 22 models.

At Synergy, Citrix will release its Citrix Ready™ desktop appliance specification with the aim of defining a new class of devices specifically designed to deliver a full desktop experience when connecting to Citrix XenDesktop in a VDI environment. These devices are geared towards those customer scenarios which represent the main target market for XenDesktop, namely knowledge workers accessing a corporate desktop from a LAN-connected device. The specifications for a stylized device make the access of virtual PCs a more aesthetically appealing and “cool” experience, and include an integrated, widescreen, flat panel monitor with swivel and height adjustment features and a single cable connection. Citrix customers will be able to see the world’s first public demonstration of IGEL’s exciting new product in the IGEL booth #102 at Citrix Synergy, where the companies will be demonstrating a prototype of the IGEL 19” widescreen Elegance unit, which includes an embedded desktop receiver for XenDesktop.

In addition, IGEL is integrating a software switch into all of its products that allows customers to transform their thin client into a XenDesktop-tuned appliance with one simple click.  “The integration of IGEL’s One-Click-XenDesktop Appliance Feature into our standard firmware gives our customers the freedom of choice within every environment,” said Dirk Doerdelmann, engineering director at IGEL.  “Now users will be able to effortlessly switch any IGEL device into ‘XenDesktop’ mode and fully access their Citrix-hosted virtual PC.”

The integration of this feature will begin with IGEL’s upcoming Linux firmware release, scheduled for Q2 2008, and continue with the release of its Microsoft® Windows® XP Embedded and Microsoft® Windows® CE firmware shortly thereafter.  

“The pairing of Citrix XenDesktop technology with IGEL’s innovative desktop appliances provides users with a more secure, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solution that offers the same performance as traditional desktop PCs,” said Mick Hollison, vice president of product management, Desktop Delivery Group, Citrix Systems.  “IGEL has collaborated with Citrix through the Citrix Ready desktop appliance program to develop its stylized appliances that are tuned to XenDesktop. Together, XenDesktop and IGEL provide the ability to deliver a superior desktop experience to end users.”

"We believe that the Citrix desktop appliance specification will offer users the easiest and most seamless way for accessing their virtual desktops,” Doerdelmann continued.  “We are proud to not only have the largest range of access appliances that support Citrix, but also be one of the first to demonstrate and offer customers hardware that fulfills the new XenDesktop-tuned appliance specification for accessing their virtual PCs."