VMware has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Wanova, a provider of intelligent desktop solutions that centralize and simplify the management of physical desktop images while enabling users to take advantage of the native performance of a PC.

“The acquisition of Wanova will bring together industry leading solutions for centralized image management of both physical and virtual desktops,” said Jeff Jennings, vice president, Enterprise Desktop, VMware.

“This combination has the potential to redefine the desktop virtualization landscape. By blurring the boundaries of virtual vs. physical desktops, the benefits of central image management and persistent user installed applications can be extended to all systems within a business – physical, virtual, tethered desktops, or roaming Mac and PC laptops.”

“Business requirements are constantly evolving and in turn, IT teams also need to evolve from managing devices towards managing user workspaces and experience across multiple devices. The combination of VMware and Wanova addresses this evolution in a unique and innovative way,” said Sebastiano Tevarotto, Chairman and CEO, Wanova. “We're excited to join VMware in enabling a more intelligent desktop infrastructure by providing centralized image management, but enabling those images to run where it makes sense for the user: in a VDI session, on a client hypervisor, or natively on a PC.”

Enterprises are dealing with two fundamental client computing pain points – providing secure access to an increasingly mobile workforce; and managing the burgeoning diversity of data, applications and devices needed to run their business. These challenges result from the transformative nature of cloud computing and the post-PC era which require a new way to work.

The VMware end-user computing portfolio seeks to free employees and IT organizations from more than two decades of complex, device-centric computing, and deliver a more user-centric experience for the connected enterprise. In this new model, organizations leverage hybrid cloud resources – while maintaining a managed, secure environment – to provide new ways for employees to collaborate across applications and data from any device.

The combination of VMware View and Wanova Mirage will enable IT organizations to offer a better user experience for employees and increased operational savings across all device types, by:

- Deploying Centralized, Single Image Management for Both Physical and Virtual Desktops –IT organizations will be able to automatically synchronize PC image updates/upgrades to all types of endpoints – physical virtual, tethered desktops, or roaming laptops (Mac and PC).

- Supporting Departmental and User Installed Applications – Advanced layering technology will enable the deployment of persistent departmental and/or user installed applications in centrally managed desktop images, providing every end user with a low cost personalized physical or virtual desktop.

- Gaining High Availability and Rapid Disaster Recovery – Image-syncing technology efficiently stores all elements of a user’s desktop image in a company’s private cloud for complete management and backup, while desktop streaming and layering technology enables quick recovery and repair services for all types of endpoints, even over WAN.

- Delivering Universal Access – Image-syncing and layering technology can enable universal access that facilitates seamless transitions between all types of endpoints – physical, virtual, tethered desktops, or roaming laptops (Mac or PC).