IGEL Technology has introduced a built-in Citrix XenDesktop Appliance Mode for all of its Universal Desktops based on Windows XP Embedded. This new solution allows Windows XP Embedded users who are deploying virtual PCs with XenDesktop to get the ultimate PC-like experience using IGEL thin clients.

This innovative desktop appliance allows end-users to switch between a traditional IGEL Universal Desktop and a locked down appliance for accessing a virtual PC delivered by XenDesktop. To deploy a virtual PC, Citrix customers can plug a network cable into an IGEL device and log on to Windows. Once users log in, their experience is identical to that of a traditional PC.

For users that want to take their PC-like experience further, organizations can use the Citrix XenDesktop Appliance Mode for Windows XP in conjunction with IGEL's Digital Service Virtualization (DSV) approach. This unique technology delivers a user experience that is similar to that of a desktop PC, even when using server-based applications that aren't traditionally optimized in virtual PCs, such as moving graphics, multi-media and video conferencing. This is achieved by "reverse-publishing" local digital services, including web, multimedia, VoIP, Java and more. With DSV, when certain digital services are activated on the virtual desktop, the application call is "trapped" and a request is sent to the IGEL Universal Desktop. The digital service then opens locally, seamlessly integrated with the virtual PC desktop with no need for the user to "toggle" between digital service sessions and the virtual PC.