​Citrix rolls out new XenMobile, integrates productivity apps, management pane

Citrix on Tuesday launched XenMobile 10, the latest version of its enterprise mobility suite with the aim of consolidating the app and device management and integrating productivity tools.

XenMobile is Citrix's entry into the crowded enterprise mobility management (EMM) space, which includes VMware's AirWatch, MobileIron, BlackBerry, Good Technology, Microsoft and IBM and its Apple partnership and a host of others such as Samsung's enterprise unit.

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In its release, Citrix said that it redesigned workflow, better integrated apps and layered in productivity features such as email prioritization and private calendar invites. Citrix's take on EMM revolves around content management and productivity via its business apps such as WorxMail, WorxNotes, WorxDesktop and ShareFile. The applications handle everything from document creation to backup to syncing and storing text, images, audio and video to ShareFile, which meets regulatory and security requirements.

Microsoft, a long-time Citrix partner, is also banking on Office 365 integration and Active Directory to be a mobility differentiator. As noted previously, EMM vendors are in a dogfight and it's unclear how important it is to be an independent player. Many vendors are building a mobility stack and integrating it with other products they already sell.

Manoj Raisinghani, vice president of product marketing at Citrix, said one goal of the latest XenMobile is to appeal to power users and create better workflows so workers will actually use apps for systems of record and corporate software. "We're connecting to the backend with apps and securing them in a way so people actually want to use them," said Raisinghani.

He added that Citrix's XenMobile can land share in EMM because "reliance on a single vendor isn't happening in large enterprises." Why? Mobility is scaling too fast for any one player to dominate.

XenMobile includes the following:

• A revamped self-service portal to track, lock and wipe devices. Citrix estimates that 20 percent of mobile help desk tickets can be cut with self-service portals.
• Security enhancements with FIPS 140-2 compliance, integration with RSA's adaptive authentication and multi-factor device security options.
• A new management console that allows admins to manage apps and devices from one virtual server. Citrix's primary selling point for its unified console is that enterprises can set one policy and apply across platforms including iOS, Android and Windows Phone.
• Integration with Citrix's NetScaler tools to control network access gateways.
• The XenMobile client app is available now with server enhancements coming in the first quarter.