VMware announced the upcoming availability of VMware ThinApp 4, an application virtualization solution that lets customers run multiple versions of virtually any application on any Windows operating system without conflict. For example, users can run both Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7 on the same operating system without disruption.

ThinApp, based on Thinstall technology, the leading agentless application virtualization solution, requires no pre-installed software on physical or virtual PCs and no new deployment infrastructure or management tools. ThinApp improves application packaging, delivery, and management by enabling plug-and-play applications using an enterprise’s existing systems and management tools. ThinApp packages applications in familiar formats (.MSI or .EXE) that can plug into existing infrastructure for software license management, deployment, audit and compliance.

ThinApp 4 introduces two new features: Application Link and Application Sync, which enable two virtualized applications to communicate with each other and remote virtual applications to be updated. These features are important for easier management of the virtual applications. ThinApp extends VMware’s industry-leading desktop virtualization product family to enable management solutions for both desktops and applications.

Traditional application packaging and delivery tools are fraught with application and operating system conflicts, which lead to a “brittle” desktop environment. ThinApp eliminates these conflicts and securely packages applications for delivery to physical and virtual desktops throughout the extended enterprise. The result is an application delivery solution which lets IT administrators define their technology roadmaps based on their business needs rather than being constrained by application limitations.

Customers want application virtualization technologies that do not restrict applications to one presentation format or another, ThinApp enables the same virtual application to be streamed from a network, presented from a terminal server, delivered to USB stick (e.g., for a contract worker), or delivered through standard software delivery tools with little to no integration required. ThinApp also helps IT administrators manage applications that do not run as well in shared-user environments such as Microsoft Terminal Server. By creating a separate instance with its own private sandbox, each application runs in the context of each user session without having to be modified; if a user “breaks” the application, other users are not impacted.

“Application packaging, testing and delivery continues to be one of the biggest drivers of desktop management costs and a barrier to compliance and security,” said Jeff Jennings, vice president of desktop products and solutions for VMware. “With VMware ThinApp, customers can decouple applications from the underlying OS, which makes their application environments more agile and flexible while maintaining control over their desktops.”

Rolling out new applications, desktops, or operating systems brings with it the challenges and complexity of managing IT change. This disruption puts the business at risk, as employee productivity can suffer when applications do not work. In addition, the growing trend for mobility and the need for agility are often compromised by strict regulatory requirements.

“During the past two years, new client architectures have emerged that complement today's PC configuration tools, improving efficiency of management and enabling user-provisioned client computing,” said Ronni Collville, vice president, Gartner. “Over the next 2 to 5 years over 50% of medium to large enterprises will adopt application virtualization – to save costs, complexity, and time to value throughout their desktop lifecycle. The ability of upcoming application virtualization technology to work with multiple PC configuration tools is critical to reducing the overall complexity and realization of true costs savings of packaging, testing and deployment of applications and desktops.”

VMware ThinApp 4.0 highlights include:

• Application Link
• Application Sync
• “Package once, deploy anywhere” with agentless application virtualization.
• Works with existing management tools to streamline costs and maintain compliance
• Conflict-free applications eliminate risks to business continuity
• Regain control of the desktop

“VMware ThinApp allows our contracted employees working on foreign networks where interoperability and security concerns exist to safely access complex applications critical to their productivity,” said Robert Carter, senior IT engineer, Fluor Federal Services. “ThinApp is another example of the way VMware helps customers address real-world problems that save time, money, and manpower. I am very excited to see how ThinApp will continue to evolve."

"VMware's approach to providing modular virtualization solutions that plug into existing Desktop Configuration Management tools enables customers to re-engineer their approach to migrations without disrupting their current processes," said Scott Fulton, vice president, BMC Service Automation Product Line. "Both companies are committed to providing end-to-end solutions that make for seamless adoption of desktop virtualization. Our demonstrated success in this area has already enabled mutual customers to streamline their efforts in user based provisioning, enhancing business service alignment and achieving greater operational efficiency.”