Citrix and Microsoft have always enjoyed a very strong partnership with many a time speculation occurring about when Microsoft would acquire Citrix, it has never happened and probably wont be happening anytime soon. There has also been rumours about bad relationships between the companies, but since the advent of virtualisation both organisations have forged an even stronger partnership.
This week at Microsoft WPC in New Orleans once again Microsoft and Citrix have announced some new working initiatives around App-V (part of the Microsoft MDOP pack) and Citrix XenApp. App-V albeit a great application is difficult to get hold of as it typically involves an Enterprise Agreement with Software Assurance, but this maybe changing through tighter integration with Windows 7. Citrix will now fully support the Microsoft application virtualisation platform on its Citrix Receiver in H2 2009 and in the new Dazzle product in H1 2010.
When released, the Citrix clients will be extended so they recognize the Microsoft App-V client. The whole process will be completely transparent to the end user, leveraging the “plug in” architecture of the Receiver and Dazzle clients.
Additionally in H1 2010 Citrix will release a connector for Microsoft SCCM to distribute XenApp virtual applications through the Microsoft Management Solution.