In addition to a handful of blade system and thin client hardware vendors, a number of software providers are working to change the face of desktop computing With application virtualization, apps no longer need to be installed on desktop PCs. Desktop virtualization delivers entire desktop environments to clients. Also, blade hardware and thin client solution vendors provide VMware VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) and other virtualized desktop solutions, including ClearCube Technology, Fujitsu, Fujitsu-Siemens, Hitachi, HP, IBM, NComputing, NEC, Neoware, Sun Microsystems, and Wyse Technology. Application virtualization AppStream The AppStream application streaming platform delivers Windows applications to client systems on demand. The company partners with Altiris and Thinstall to stream virtualized applications. Altiris With the Software Virtualization Solution, applications and data are wrapped into Virtual Software Packages and delivered to the desktop, allowing users or admins to activate, deactivate, or reset applications without touching the Windows client.Microsoft (Softricity) SoftGrid streams applications to clients, so the entire app need not be downloaded to execute. Packaged apps can move from machine to machine based on log-in credentials.Thinstall This company’s Virtualization Suite is based on a Virtual Operating System, which is embedded with each application delivered to the desktop. The .exe container captures call to the registry and file system. Desktop virtualization Citrix Citrix provides thin-client access to end-user desktops via the Desktop Broker add-on to Presentation Server. The company is working on a connection broker for other hosted desktop environments and an application virtualization and streaming solution.Leostream Leostream’s Virtual Desktop Connection Broker brings connection management, desktop fail-over, and self-service capabilities to VMware VDI environments. Propero Propero has an edition of its workSpace software that handles connection management and access security for VMware VDI implementations.Provision Networks The company’s Virtual Access Suite includes connection management, fault management, and an access gateway for VMware VDI. Virtual machines Microsoft A free download, Virtual PC lets you run multiple operating systems on the same desktop, including DOS, OS/2, and all versions of Windows stretching back to Windows 95. A Mac version is also available.Parallels This company’s Workstation for Windows and Linux, as well as its Desktop for Mac, comes with hypervisor technology that pushes I/O performance to new levels.VMware The broadly supported VMware-VDI alliance is all about streaming desktop environments from the datacenter to clients running remote display software. VMware Workstation is designed for developers who want to run multiple OSes on the same PC. Software DevelopmentTechnology IndustrySmall and Medium Business