Windows XP’s time is running out, and Google aims to give users a Chrome-hosted alternative to upgrading to a newer Windows OS.
The search giant announced a partnership with cloud and virtualization software company VMware to run VMware’s Horizon Desktop-as-a-Service platform on Chrome OS. Chromebook users can now use VMware Horizon to manage Windows desktops, data and applications.
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Microsoft will cease support for Windows XP on April 8, so as the “end of life” approaches, Google and VMware are pushing the Horizon-equipped Chromebooks as an alternative for XP-reliant enterprise companies. Instead of upgrading to a newer version of Windows, the strategy allows businesses to continue operating in an OS they’re familiar with on the surface, despite running on Chrome OS underneath.
“VMware Horizon DaaS enables customers to centralize other desktop environments and manage these as a cloud service,” Chrome director of product management Rajen Sheth wrote in a blog post. “Users will be able to access their Windows applications, data and desktops using VMware’s Blast HTML5 technology to their Chromebook.”
The platform is available to current Chromebook users and VMware Horizon View 5.3 customers as an on-premise service, and it will be available soon as a hybrid cloud deployment downloadable from the Chrome Web Store.
