Citrix adds HK bank to client list
Citrix's flagship products--Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) and MetaFrame--give employees access to their companies' Windows, Unix and Java-based applications from any device over the Internet.
In a statement today, Citrix said that its MetaFrame software will be implemented in over 100 bank branches, resulting in total cost savings of over HK$500,000 per year.
"MetaFrame enables fast and secure applications access without expanding the existing bandwidth requirements of the bank, thereby helping contain leased line costs," the Florida-based company said.
In addition, the software's centralized management functionalities will also reduce PC administration and troubleshooting costs, Citrix said. It declined to reveal the value of the deal.
Bank of East Asia has total assets of HK$145 billion (US$18.7 billion).
Other customers in the financial industry include Vickers Ballas and Standard Chartered in Singapore, HSBC in Hong Kong, Perwira Affin in Malaysia, and National Australia Bank down under. Regional customers include Citibank and JP Morgan Chase.
In March, Citrix Systems Inc said it expected sales in Asia Pacific (including Japan) to grow 20 percent this year despite a slowdown in the Asian economy.
"Many large companies have headquarters and branches in Asia Pacific. To control IT maintenance costs, they need to adopt a centralized approach to serve applications to employees," said Citrix Systems Asia Pacific managing director Nabeel Youakim in an interview.
The region contributed 5 percent, or US$23.5 million, to Citrix's total revenues for the year ended December 2000, Youakim noted.