eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
In the great wide world of information technology, Parallels may be the most cross-functional of all software makers. The company’s sole purpose for years has been to connect PC and Macintosh desktops across their inherent operating-system boundaries and enable people to create and share work from any computer to any other connected device.
Parallels made its reputation developing and marketing software that enables Windows OS and its apps to run seamlessly on Apple laptops and tablets. The company now does about two-thirds of its business on the service provider side; it’s a major international player in hosting and cloud services enablement and other cross-platform packages.
In recent years, Parallels has expanded its product line to connect PC and Mac desktops/laptops to various mobile phones and tablets. It’s currently in version 11 of its Windows-to-Macintosh exchange desktop, so it has iterated a lot and improved the efficiency of its products in great measure over the years.
Latest Remote App Server Now Simpler to Use
On Feb. 3, the Renton, Wash.-based company again moved ahead with the launch of Parallels Remote Application Server v15, which brings Windows applications and desktops to employees on any device, anywhere in the world.
Co-founder and President Jack Zubarev told eWEEK that the server administration has been so simplified in this latest version that “IT administrators can download, set up and configure complete solutions with Parallels Remote Application Server in hours/days as opposed to weeks and months in order to become operational.”
Parellels’ products compete in the same market with Citrix XenApp and VMware Horizon, among others.
“An important new thing we’ve done is integrate all those cool Parallels Access mobile clients that run Windows applications into the Remote Application Server,” Zubarev said. “We’ve always had the best user experience and simplicity [with the PC-to-Mac desktop application], and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do with the Remote Application Server.”
Parallels Remote Application Server now features an enhanced user interface that reduces time for most common admin tasks, including a streamlined user enrollment process with intuitive configuration wizards for tasks such as application maintenance and new server setups, the company said.
Key New Features, Benefits of Remote App Server
Zubarev said Parallels Remote Application Server streamlines BYOD (bring your own device) with support for more devices. Other features include the following:
- eliminates the need for IT administrators to manually set up each device;
- enables seamless support for more devices, including PC, Mac, Chromebook, Linux, iOS, Android and Raspberry Pi;
- transforms devices into thin terminals, extending hardware life and saving money;
- integrates the intuitive iOS and Android clients from Parallels Access, enabling employees to use familiar touch and gestures on their tablets and phones with applications from Windows XP to Windows 10;
- Chrome OS Client updates that support Microsoft RemoteFX and peripheral redirection to offer a high-end graphics application delivery;
- Windows, Mac and Linux client configuration policy security with extended administrator capabilities to secure data and application access while preventing illegitimate user access; and
- built-in support for additional security technology, such as SafeNet, DeepNet and RADIUS authentication.
Parallels Remote Application Server includes all features for remote desktop and application delivery—including reporting, high availability, two-factor authentication and Windows Client Management— which are functionalities that other products sell separately. The Remote Application Server is fully functional from the start with no installation of extra modules required, the company said.
Parallels Remote Application Server v15 features a concurrent user license at $99 per year for a lower acquisition cost, lower support cost and lower training cost with full functionality from the start, including support. Parallels Remote Application Server became available Feb. 3 via online and approved resellers, a list of which can be found here.
You can download a free 30-day trial of Parallels Remote Application Server v15, which includes 50 concurrent user licenses, at this location.