VMware, Google Partner for DaaS Chromebooks

VMware (VMW) has extended its partnership with Google (GOOG) by connecting Google Chromebooks with VMware's desktop as a service (DaaS) offering, an announcement out of VMware Partner Exchange 2014 (PEX 2014) in San Francisco.

For users, the solution will allow them to access their Windows applications, data and desktops using VMware's Blast HTML5 technology from a web-based application catalog on their Chromebook. VMware Horizon DaaS, though, will provide enterprises with a choice between a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) or remote desktop services (RDS) connection.

Both companies said the solution will help enterprises achieve greater security, lower total cost ownership of Google Chromebooks and provide cloud access to current and legacy applications.

Through the joint solution, customers will now be able to "embrace the cloud with Chromebooks" and bring along existing investments, Google Chrome Vice President Casesar Sengupta told the audience.

"A lot of the partners here will find that their customers will actually want this product," he said. "If I was sitting in the audience, I would look at this as a fantastic opportunity."

VMware Horizon View 5.3 and Google Chromebook customers can leverage this opportunity as as an on-premise service.

The solution is also expected to be delivered as a fully managed, subscription DaaS offering by VMware and other vCloud Service Provider Partners, in the cloud or within hybrid deployments.

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