IBM Puts Virtual Desktops in the Cloud
IBM is rolling out a subscription service that aims to make it easier for large companies to use desktop virtualization, a technology that has been slow to take off but which some say has big potential.
Desktop virtualization allows companies to host an employee's desktop OS and applications in a virtual machine on a central server, where they can be accessed using a Web browser from a thin client or desktop PC.
Proponents say the technology can lower IT costs by centralizing the management of desktop software, and make workers more mobile by allowing them to access their corporate applications from any computer. But desktop virtualization can be complex to implement and many IT departments don't have the skills yet to do it. And some companies are put off by the need to make an up-front investment in new server software and hardware.
