VMware launches Horizon suite, eyes small screen management

VMware on Wednesday launched a suite around its Horizon product line that's designed to manage multiple screens and that data and apps that go with them.

Specifically, VMware rolled out its Horizon Suite, which bundles Horizon View, Horizon Mirage and Horizon Workspace, a new application to manage multiple screens.

VMware said that Horizon supports Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. Other platforms, including Windows RT and Windows Phone, can be accessed via a browser instead of an embedded agent.

In a nutshell, VMware's suite is a big push into mobile application management. Among the moving Horizon parts:

• Workspace, which manages data, applications and desktops on any device such as desktop, tablets and smartphones. Workspace allows companies to add devices, users and applications without reconfiguring devices. Workspace has a single workspace on any device and a management console. 
  
• View 5.2, which manages virtual desktop infrastructure and access to remote desktops using HTML5 browsers. View 5.2 includes hardware accelerated 3D graphics, gesturing capabilities, HTML access to view desktops and support for Microsoft Lync. 
• Mirage 4.0, which optimizes desktop services. Mirage includes image management and virtualization for application packaging and backup. The latest Mirage includes application layering and Mac support for free. 

The Horizon suite will be available in the first quarter with licenses per user starting at $300.

In an interview, Ben Goodman, lead evangelist for end user computing at VMware, said that the suite is focused on managing apps and data not devices. "The Horizon suite is designed to be a one stop shop for managing the end user interface to IT," said Goodman.

When asked whether Horizon extends to smarpthones, Goodman noted that the suite does, but primarily through a browser unless the device is powered by iOS or Android. "Horizon is supporting smartphones, but you have to be realistic about what you can do on a 5-inch screen," said Goodman. "Smartphones are an edge use case and don't use virtual desktops often unless it's for doc viewing capability."