Citrix, IBM team up for business continuity

Computerworld - Citrix Systems Inc. launched its annual technology conference today by announcing that it's working with IBM to develop a business continuity product to be used by workers after natural disasters and other emergencies.

The product, code-named Project Kent, includes a USB device that employees could use with laptops or other computers to gain access to the office network from remote locations after a fire, flood or other disruption. Employees could also use it under normal conditions to gain access to applications for collaborative efforts, officials from the companies said.

Pilot testing of the Project Kent product will begin next year, said Russ Lindburg, director of business continuity and resiliency services at IBM. The Citrix device will be offered as a part of IBM's Virtual Workplace Continuity Service, he said. The Citrix IForum Global 2006 conference is being held in Orlando.

In addition to Project Kent, Citrix today announced its Dynamic Desktop Initiative, which it launched with 12 business partners, including IBM and several Windows PC and server manufacturers. The dynamic desktop concept envisions technology that would allow a company to refresh and manage its desktop PCs from the data center, lowering management costs and improving performance and flexibility for individual users.

Citrix announced an initial software product for the new Dynamic Desktop initiative called Desktop Broker, which runs on its Presentation Server 4. A trial version of Desktop Broker will be available online on Nov. 6. Meanwhile, Citrix said it will build a comprehensive desktop management product line early in 2007.