IBM Offers Solid - But IBM-light - Virtual Desktop Solution to SMEs

Event Summary

January 24, 2011 - The IBM Virtual Desktop for Smart Business is a workforce mobility offering for anytime, anywhere access to personal desktops from mobile devices and thin clients. It allows Windows or Linux desktops to be hosted and managed centrally, and with VERDE software from Virtual Bridges on a customer's own infrastructure or hosted on a Business Partner "private cloud". The solution delivered through IBM Business Partners is pre-integrated, with ready-to-run software - priced at $150 per user per year.

Quick Take

Analytical Summary

• Current Perspective: Positive on the IBM launch of Virtual Desktop (IVD) services for Smart Business as it addresses a weakness in IBM end-to-end delivery capabilities, and provides a competitive service in the SME virtual desktop market. However, IBM chooses to base its service on the VERDE product suite from Virtual Bridges, and to distribute via its local Business Partners. This leaves the product unattached to other IBM services and cannot be sold via normal global IBM channels.

• Vendor Importance: Moderate to IBM’s entry into the SME services market as the virtual desktop market is still a very small market and IVD is not yet fully aligned with the other IBM SME services.

• Market Impact: Moderate on the SME VD market where several competing solutions are available to the SME customer looking to simplify their apps and workspace management. However, simply because IBM has the reach and distribution capabilities to make this a success, it will impact the whole market. IBM is basically repackaging a very solid product from Virtual Bridges with no unique selling proposition.

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Competitive Strengths and Weaknesses

Response & Recommendations

Buyer Actions

Analytical Perspective

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