IGEL and Leostream Partner to Provide a Comprehensive Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Solution for Windows Users

Leostream Connection Broker Now Included in IGEL Windows Embedded Standard Firmware

READING, UK. – September 16, 2009 – IGEL Technology, the world's largest Linux thin client vendor and the third largest thin client vendor (2008 by revenue, IDC), today announced the inclusion of the Leostream Connection Broker in its Windows Embedded Standard (WES) firmware. Leostream™ Corporation is a leading developer of virtual hosted desktop software. The Leostream Connection Broker, the industry’s most widely-deployed vendor-independent product of its kind, is delivered as a virtual appliance and provides the software management layer necessary to tie desktop images in the data center to a user’s thin client, laptop, workstation or Web interface.

The combined solution gives IGEL customers the ability to deploy and manage Windows virtual desktops within their IT environments. It also provides users with a virtual desktop experience that is equal to or better than that of a traditional desktop. Furthermore, customers can access their virtual desktop from any location, due to the technology’s ability to direct users to their own virtual desktop image.
 
“We’re excited to extend our partnership with Leostream to include the latest version of its Connection Broker into our WES firmware,” said Simon Richards, UK general manager at IGEL Technology. “With this addition, our customers can deploy virtual desktops and have real-time access to Windows resources from anywhere in their organization. No matter which applications, operating systems, protocols or peripherals our customers have, our thin clients will work seamlessly in their environment.” 

“IGEL and Leostream share a commitment to providing organizations with top-quality technology solutions, and through this partnership, we’re able to help them achieve robust, enterprise-scale, production-proven VDI deployments,” said Michael Palin, CEO of Leostream. “The combination of our Connection Broker with IGEL’s broad hardware range creates a particularly effective solution for users working in Windows and Linux environments.”

The benefits of Leostream Connection Broker, which must be purchased separately from the IGEL thin clients, include:
• Desktops can be remotely managed and assigned to users from, and then returned to, a pool for the most efficient use of computing power.
• Single sign-on lets users avoid re-entering usernames and passwords.
• Support for a wide-range of remote desktop protocols enables the complexity of the backend system to be hidden from the user - they just login and are automatically connected to the appropriate resource using the necessary connectivity.
• Minimal user training is required since the hosted desktops look and behave exactly like physical desktops.

The new IGEL WES firmware became available in Entry, Standard and Advanced firmware feature packs as of September 1st.  The Leostream Client is included in the Standard and Advanced firmware packages. Existing IGEL customers will also be able to download the latest version of the firmware from www.igel.com free of charge. The integration of the Leostream client in IGEL’s Linux firmware is planned for November 2009