Wyse reforms the personal computer with Alcatraz PC control software

Wyse Technology, the domain expert in server-centric computing, is using its proven technology to solve problems for a wider range of customers with the introduction of

, a PC control software application that effectively reforms the personal computer (PC).

Alcatraz extends the useful life of PCs whether they are being used in the traditional client/server architecture, or if they are part of a migration to server-centric computing. Wyse Alcatraz allows CIOs to deliver greater productivity to both IT managers and users throughout an organisation on a limited budget.

With Alcatraz, employees have the power and freedom to get their jobs done while the need for desktop support visits can be virtually eliminated, thus slashing IT support costs. Alcatraz breathes new life into older PCs and delivers an immediate return on the software investment.

For IT Wise, local distributor for Wyse and the leader in the thin-client market in SA, this new software extends the company`s market reach beyond its core server-centric customer base. It is one aspect of the server-centric computing model that separates thin clients from other PC alternative solutions on the market today, such as the blade PC.

For CIOs who have considered deploying blade PCs to centrally manage clients in the enterprise, Alcatraz delivers equal or greater PC functionality, yet spares them from the up-front hardware and infrastructure investment required for blade PCs. Furthermore, Wyse`s PC control software provides greater management flexibility and is not limited by many of the distance and infrastructure limitations and complications that restrict blade PC deployments. Instead, IT administrators can control and maintain PCs in multiple locations from a single console.

"Wyse`s success is based on their constant drive to deliver server-centric computing products that provide powerful business benefits to our customers," said Nico Malherbe, Marketing Director of IT Wise. "Wyse Alcatraz allows IT managers to gain greater control over their installed base of PCs, which greatly expands the types of customers we can serve. Our PC control software delivers on the Wyse promise to empower businesses to increase their desktop security and performance while reducing their cost of managing and maintaining their enterprise."

Wyse Alcatraz empowers IT managers to choose from a sliding spectrum of settings to control their PCs. Department-by-department and user-by-user, managers can provide full PC functionality, or convert the PC instantly into a fixed-function device such as a kiosk or Windows terminal. Between the two extremes, administrators can grant or restrict access to browsers, peripherals, storage devices, applications and Windows settings. As a result, PCs can evolve from being cost centres into easily managed and productive corporate tools. Through this ability to convert PCs into Windows terminals, Alcatraz empowers businesses with limited budgets to benefit from the advantages of server-centric computing, which include enhanced security, reliability, affordability and manageability with a minimal IT investment.

Alcatraz provides IT managers with an intuitive interface that is easier to learn and use than other complex PC control software packages. For enterprises that demand greater flexibility from their PCs, Wyse Alcatraz also provides administrators with comprehensive remote management features that include the ability to adjust their PC control settings on the fly. This feature is valuable when multiple employees with different security clearances use the same PC. When IT administrators know in advance which employees need specific PC or thin-client capabilities, they can use Alcatraz to schedule the PC`s settings to change automatically.

Michael Azoff, Senior Research Analyst at Butler Group, said: "The problem of managing a diverse PC environment is a headache for many organisations. Wyse has vast experience in migrating its customers to thin clients and this new application has tremendous market potential for companies making the step to a server-based computing architecture. We certainly expect this software to become highly popular in companies with large numbers of greying PCs."

Wyse Alcatraz provides additional features that make it a unique industry offering. Not only can managers remotely change the settings on any locked-down PC, they can even force each client to shut down or restart from their central console, if necessary. Furthermore, Wyse Alcatraz allows IT staff to audit all PCs, schedule changes within each unit`s settings and manage all software updates from a central location. Wyse`s PC control software supports virtually all Microsoft Windows PC operating systems from Windows 95 and Windows NT to Windows XP and runs on most Windows-based server operating systems, including Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Server.