Wyse ships dedicated zero client for Citrix

The Xenith is built for Citrix XenDesktop virtualisation

Wyse Technology has unveiled a dedicated endpoint device for accessing virtual desktops via Citrix XenDesktop.

The device needs no configuration or management, fundamentally changing the user experience and economics of desktop computing for office-based workers, according to Wyse.

Available from June, the Wyse Xenith is dubbed a zero client since it has no operating system, and thus requires no local configuration or management, unlike the thin client systems for which Wyse is best known.

The Xenith is essentially a dedicated access device for XenDesktop, Citrix's virtual desktop infrastructure platform for serving Windows clients as virtual machines hosted on servers.

It integrates a custom Citrix Receiver client that auto-discovers XenDesktop right out of the box, and launches into a full Windows desktop session within seconds, according to Wyse.

Xenith also includes Citrix HDX technology, which is designed to deliver a full PC experience over a remote connection. It supports video and audio streaming and maps the USB ports on the device back to the XenDesktop session, allowing users to plug in devices such as USB Flash drives.

The new device is currently on show at Citrix's Synergy conference in San Francisco.

"When it comes to delivering virtual desktops to office workers, the combination of Citrix XenDesktop and the new Wyse Xenith zero client delivers a level of performance and value that we believe is going to blow a lot of people away," said Citrix chief executive Mark Templeton.

Citrix released a Receiver client for Apple's iPad last month, allowing it to serve as an endpoint for XenDesktop.