Oracle releases iPad app for virtual desktop client

Oracle has released a virtual desktop client app for the Apple iPad to provide mobile access to server-hosted desktops and enterprise applications.

Available to download for free from Apple's App Store, the Oracle Virtual Desktop Client app provides user access to virtual desktops running on Oracle's Sun Ray Software and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

Wim Coekaerts, senior vice-president of Linux and virtualisation engineering at Oracle, said users benefit from enhanced security, centralised administration, lower cost and better access to corporate data from an iPad.

"The app is part of Oracle's complete desktop-to-datacentre virtualisation portfolio that allows customers to efficiently and easily virtualise and manage their full software and hardware stack, from applications to disk," said Wim Coekaerts.

The app also supports enterprise applications, such as Oracle's Siebel CRM system.

Anthony Lye, senior vice-president of Oracle CRM, added: "The user's desktop environment, including any web-based Siebel CRM application, is hosted in the data centre and rendered accurately over the network on the iPad, increasing speed and ensuring that no local data is stored on the device, which increases security."

The app includes other security features such as VPN functionality and protection over public Wi-Fi connections through 256-bit AES (advanced encryption standard) encryption. It also includes "auto discovery" of Oracle VDI and Sun Ray Software servers and uses Oracle's Appliance Link Protocol (ALP) to support multimedia playback.

Oracle has also released an update to its VDI. VDI 3.3 includes support for the Oracle Linux platform and additional administration tools.

Image: Peter Kaminski