HP Enhances Client Virtualization Offerings to Improve Security and Usability, Reduce Complexity

SAN FRANCISCO, HP today expanded its client virtualization offerings for businesses to help reduce the costs and complexity of client virtualization while improving the user experience.

The new offerings, announced at Citrix Synergy 2010, include:

* The HP 4320t Mobile Thin Client is designed to meet the security and reliability needs of remote and mobile workers.
* HP’s desk-based thin client line now features expanded multimedia capabilities.
* HP has worked with Citrix to develop new virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) reference architectures for XenDesktop and XenServer that help reduce the threat of potential data loss or theft, lower the complexity and cost of desktop management, and provide end-users with the functionality of a stand-alone desktop.
* The HP Compaq Elite 8000 Business Desktop and HP EliteBook 8440p Notebook PC are the first Citrix Ready platforms expected to support the recently announced Citrix XenClient hypervisor technology. Citrix XenClient support provides the power to deliver the most demanding business applications, while offering the protection of a secure, centrally managed virtual machine for business customers.

“HP’s comprehensive client virtualization portfolio allows customers to choose the ideal components for their infrastructure and user base,” said Jeff Groudan, director, Thin Computing Solutions, HP. “We are providing our customers with proven technology to fit their unique environments – from innovative desktop or mobile thin clients and traditional rich PCs that enable client virtualization, to our preconfigured and tested reference architectures that help customers design the right combination of hardware, software and services for their business.”

More secure and manageable mobility

As desktop virtualization adoption accelerates, there is an increasing demand for reliable mobile thin clients for remote users. The new HP 4320t Mobile Thin Client enables secure access to server-based virtual or blade PC computing solutions while providing the mobility of a reliable notebook PC. Users store data on a secure, centralized server – rather than on an internal hard drive – ensuring data is protected in the event a thin client is lost or stolen.

Adding to HP’s broad client virtualization portfolio of thin clients, VDI and blade client hardware, the 4.3-pound(1) HP 4320t features a brushed-aluminum metal finish for refined simplicity and durability with a clean appearance. Its sleek design includes a spill-resistant keyboard and integrated touchpad. Additional features include:

* Low-profile, 13.3-inch diagonal LED-backlit 16:9 high-definition (HD)(2) display for improved brightness, contrast and clarity
* HDMI port for connections directly to HD displays
* Flexible battery options include 6-cell Li-Ion battery for lighter weight or the HP 9-cell Li-Ion Primary Battery for extended battery life
* Preinstalled Windows® Embedded Standard, File Based Write Filter and Enhanced Write Filter, and HP Virtual Client Essentials deliver greater ease of use for IT staff and mobile professionals
* Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) helps prevent undesired writes to solid-state modules such as application installations and downloads
* USB storage security options provide automated administrator control over USB attached memory device read/write access

The HP 4320t helps reduce the workload of IT staff with manageability features such as HP ThinState tools, HP Device Manager and preinstalled Altiris Deployment Solution software. Extensive integrated wireless technologies, such as WLAN and LAN, help mobile workers stay productive with ease.

Enhanced thin client multimedia experiences at the desktop

From corporate training to YouTube, Adobe® Flash-based video is abundant in business today. Yet Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 6, one of the most common VDI protocols used by VMware View and Microsoft® Remote Desktop Services environments, does not natively support Flash. The new HP RDP Enhancements for Adobe Flash Redirection decodes and plays embedded Flash, enabling customers to enjoy enhanced productivity and communication benefits.

Available for HP Flexible and Performance series thin clients, HP RDP Enhancements for Adobe Flash Redirection decodes Flash media by taking advantage of client processors rather than server processors, thereby lowering the CPU load on the server. This also increases scalability by allowing customers to add more users per server, and lowers the total cost of ownership.

Reducing the complexity of designing a VDI environment

The new HP and Citrix VDI reference architectures provide the functionality of a stand-alone desktop, while enabling unified management of both physical and virtual infrastructures from the same centralized console.

HP’s comprehensive reference architectures are built using the company’s extensive experience testing and simulating real-world workloads to reduce risk, deliver predictable results and accelerate time to deployment for new VDI environments.

The VDI solution developed by HP and Citrix supports more than 1,000 users of XenDesktop 4.0, XenServer 5.5 or Provisioning Server 5.1. It includes HP BladeSystem c-Class or HP ProLiant servers along with Flex-10 virtual connect technology, HP storage and networking, and a choice of HP t5740 or HP t5325 thin clients, depending upon end-user experience requirements.

Each reference architecture can be scaled to meet changing business needs and can be complemented by a full portfolio of HP services including planning, implementation, support and hosting.

Pricing and availability(3)

The HP 4320t Mobile Thin Client is expected to be available in the United States this month.

The HP 4320t Mobile Thin Client will be on display at Citrix Synergy 2010. A hands-on demo of HP’s industry-leading thin clients and software, the new XenClient architecture and other HP client virtualization solutions is available in HP booth 204.

HP RDP Enhancements for Flash Redirection is available today as a downloadable add-on at HP.com for $15.

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.

(1) Weight will vary by configuration.

(2) HD content required to view HD images.

(3) Estimated U.S. list prices. Actual prices may vary.

Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected operational and financial results; and other risks that are described in HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2010 and HP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.