Google And VMWare Partner To Bring Windows Access To Chromebooks

Chromebooks have their benefits and limitations, and unfortunately for many users, those limitations are of the sort involving lack of access to needed software. Taking aim at this issue, Google has teamed up with VMWare to bring Desktop as a Service (DaaS) to the Internet giant's small laptops, giving users Windows access.

The announcement was made by Rajen Sheth, Chrome's Director of Product Management, on Google's Enterprise blog today. He touched on Chromebook sales number, pointing out that they accounted for 21-percent of US commercial laptop sales last year. VMWare also spoke about the new partnership, saying its DaaS and desktop virtualization for Chromebook users will deliver "on the promise of the Mobile-Cloud Era without compromise."

Through VMWare Horizon DaaS, Chromebook users can access data, desktops, and Windows applications, with Google saying the functionality will help ensure compatibility issues, security vulnerabilities, and migration costs are nixed for businesses that take advantage of the offering. According to VMWare, it will at first be made available to customers as an on-premise service, and in the future is slated as a subscription DaaS from VMWare and vCloud Service Provider Partners.

Said President of Google Enterprise Amit Singh, "Google Chromebooks can save business about $5,000 per computer when compared to traditional PCs. Chromebooks are designed for the way people use computers today and are a secure, easy and cost-effective solution to help organizations embrace a new way of doing business. Through our partnership with VMware, businesses can now capitalize on these advantages with access to legacy applications, data and desktops they need to keep employees productive."

SOURCE: Google Enterprise and VMWare