InstallFree delivers apps to locked-down PCs

InstallFree has released its application virtualisation technology, which eases deployment of applications to Windows desktops, in the UK. In August, it will also introduce a product that will let remote workers access virtual applications on any unmanaged PC, anywhere.

Available immediately, InstallFree Bridge is a client-less platform that integrates with a company’s existing infrastructure to seamlessly deploy applications without the need for a conventional install.

The software is downloaded to each PC via a standard login script when the user logs on, after which it delivers virtual applications based on the user's Active Directory credentials. This enables IT departments to completely lock down computers without fear of restricting users, according to InstallFree.

"You get full functionality on locked-down computers and because we support roaming profiles, you get the same experience on any PC you log into," said chief executive Yori Gabay. Communication is also bi-directional, so that any changes a user makes, such as bookmarking a web site, are retained across sessions.

"From an end-user viewpoint, it looks and feels like the application is installed locally," Gabay said.

For large organisations, InstallFree Bridge offers the ability to deploy new applications more easily, enabling firms to be more responsive to changing needs.

Another key feature is that an application packaged up using InstallFree will run unchanged on Windows XP and Windows Vista, a boon to firms planning to migrate to Microsoft's new platform.

Gabay said that unlike virtual desktops, InstallFree does not require substantial back-end infrastructure to function, just a shared storage area such as a fileserver, in addition to a firm's existing Active Directory infrastructure.

In August, the firm will introduce InstallFree Desktop, a tool that enables virtual applications to be deployed beyond the corporate LAN.

The product provides a virtual shell containing the user's desktop environment that can be carried around on a USB Flash drive or streamed through a browser to any unmanaged PC with internet access. Applications are also streamed on demand.

"You can go to any machine anywhere in the world, and get the same experience," said Gabay.

This approach combines the benefits of both thin client and fat-client desktop architectures, according to InstallFree, as applications are processed locally, but managed centrally through policy settings.

InstallFree's products are available through distributor CDG in the UK. InstallFree Bridge costs £50 per end user, while InstallFree Desktop will cost £75 per user, plus an 18 per cent annual maintenance fee.

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