Crossing the Mac/Windows divide
Parallels is working to encourage the proliferation of Macs in the corporate workplace with the launch of Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac Enterprise Edition, which the company claims supports all the configuration, policy and deployment needs a large IT department is likely to have, in addition to the usual cross-platform wizardry of Parallels.
Parallels Desktop enables Windows applications to run on OS X as if they were in their native OS, while actually running in a virtual machine. The Enterprise Edition doesn't add anything new in that respect, but rather adds extra functionality on top of that already in Parallels Desktop.
The Enterprise Edition's features include: a mass deployment tool, which aims to simplify the process of pushing Parallels to a large number of systems; volume licensing, enabling large numbers of systems to be registered, giving access to updates and support; and a Request Support feature, which directs users to helpdesk staff.
"Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac Enterprise Edition simplifies end-user workflow and extends productivity by running Windows programs like they are native to the Mac, regardless of network connectivity," says Kim Johnston, Vice President of Marketing for Parallels. "Business users gain the advantages of the world's bestselling, top-rated and most trusted solution for running Windows applications on the Mac while IT departments can simplify the management and administration of the solution on their managed Mac population."
Parallels Desktop 6 Enterprise Edition is only available as an annual subscription, which covers licenses for the use of the application itself, in addition to providing priority support, software updates and access to beta releases for testing. As this edition is only available with a volume license, the pricing isn't immediately available, but is unlikely to be cheap.
