Softricity Unveils SoftGrid 3.0 With Support for Mobile Users, Active Directory

Softricity has unveiled an enhanced version of its application management and deployment platform for Windows called SoftGrid 3.0 that offers support for mobile users, Microsoft Active Directory and a .NET service for managing applications.

The application virtualization software, which runs on Citrix and standalone Windows servers, can transform any Windows application into virtual application service that is centrally configured, managed and deployed on-demand to end users, executives of the Boston-based company said.

Softricity has patented application sand boxing technology that allows for quick application delivery and deployment of applications -- even multiple versions of Microsoft Office suite -- to run as services without application conflicts. Pricing starts at $15,000.

Its current and new features make it possible, for instance, for a corporation to deploy an application on-demand, in real-time without installation while also vastly reducing desktop and laptop management costs and the number of Citrix server farms necessary to host various applications.

The SoftGrid 3.0 platform launched on Monday, caches application functionality to laptops to extend support for mobile users.

The updated platform also leverages the directory services in Windows NT and 2000/2003 servers to centralize application management, while a new .NET Web service in the product manages the applications, users, license compliance and reporting.

One executive for the company said SoftGrid is useful in a utility computing environment because it enables fast, reliable application delivery to any enterprise user.

"You can run any app on any machine without fear of conflict because you're not installing the software," said David Greschler, co-founder and vice [resident of corporate marketing for Softricity. "And it delivers the desktop to XP, NT, and with version 3.0 to laptops."

Customers and partners lauded the sought-after improvements.

"With application caching you can download and take it with you," said Paul Theisen, director of information systems for The Tech Group, a Softricity customer and manufacturing company with a large data center in Phoenix. "It's like the application is installed on a notebook locally. With this mobile versions, they don't need a persistent connection."

The Boston-based company launched a revamped channel program in June.

One partner, RapidApps, said SoftGrid 3.0 addresses a major limitation in the previous version with its support for Active Directory.

"It's Softricity's true starting point for an enterprise class piece of software," said Ron Oglesby, senior technical architect for RapidApps, of Chicago, Ill. "With the improvements we see in 3.0 we have the ability to offer our customers what they have been looking for, and that's Active Directory integrated application deployment that is very scalable and can be made fully redundant across multiple data centers."

However, one partner who asked not to be named said customers have resisted SoftGrid due to the cost and Windows-centric nature of the software.

"We've done a million demos and customers aren't buying it," said one partner. "Its limited ability to handle heterogeneous environment is a factor, as is cost."