Citrix Expands ICA Support to Palm-Size PCs Running Windows CE
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — December 13, 1999 — ICA's "Virtual Screen Control" Feature is First to Let Palm-Size PC Users Navigate Displays Designed for Larger Desktop Screens.
— Application Server Technology Now Available for All WinCE Client Categories —
Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTXS) today announced a new release of its Independent Computing Architecture (ICA(R)) client for the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE operating system that, for the first time, supports small, pen-based PCs and other wireless palm-size devices.
The new ICA release includes "Virtual Screen Control," the first server-based computing feature that allows users of palm-size PCs to navigate application displays designed for larger desktop screens. This new capability enables users to access applications – such as office productivity tools – from an even wider choice of devices. In addition, for the first time, ICA is now available for all four main categories of client devices – Windows-based terminals; handheld PCs (CE Pro devices); handheld devices and now palm-size PCs.
"This news fits perfectly with Citrix's strategy to provide digital independence' with software and services that enable organizations to run applications on servers accessed on any device, with any connection, from wireless to the Web," said Martin Duursma, Citrix vice president, Computing Appliance Products. "The Windows CE platform powers many of the latest handheld PCs as well as Windows-based terminals. By providing ICA support for palm-size PCs as well as other Windows CE-based devices, Citrix further extends the reach of server-based applications."
"Citrix's new ICA client lets manufacturers of palm-size PCs, such as Compaq's Aero line of handheld products, give roaming' users fast, convenient access to server-based applications," said Ben Williams, Director of Displays & Peripherals Marketing, Compaq North America. "And not just applications written for palm-size screens – the Virtual Screen Control feature enables users to view standard-size displays, too. Citrix technology is helping Compaq meet the information-access needs of Aero customers."
New Features and Functionality
— Virtual Screen Control – Because the LCD screens on palm-size PCs are small (typically 240 by 320 pixels), they cannot fully display applications written for devices with larger screens. Virtual Screen Control provides a small, rectangular screen inset that allows the user to control which portion of the display is visible at a given time.
— Desktop resizing – This enables the ICA session to increase/decrease to compensate for the screen real estate consumed by the CE user interface. This allows more efficient use of smaller displays.
— SOCKS 4 & 5 security support – SOCKS, a widely used industry proxy protocol, is a network firewall that enables hosts behind a SOCKS server to gain full access to the Internet, while preventing unauthorized access from outside.
— Clipboard support – This feature allows copying and pasting of graphics and text between the ICA client and local applications.
— Printer management – The printer auto creation feature retains printer connections across sessions. The printer properties retention feature enables printer configurations to be preserved for use in future ICA sessions.
— Auto client update – This version of the ICA client will be able to update itself with future releases from a central Citrix server.
The Citrix ICA client for palm-size PC devices will be distributed by OEMs currently licensed for the Windows CE client. Available models include: Sharp (Mobilon); Compaq (Aero(R) 8000, 1500 and 2100); Philips Electronics (Velo); Hewlett-Packard (HP 660LX, HP 620LX & HP 360LX); and LG Electronics (Phenom).
About Citrix ICA With more than 3.5 million concurrent user licenses since its introduction in 1995, the Citrix Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) is an emerging industry standard for server-based computing. Citrix's ICA technology includes a server software component, a network protocol component, and a client software component. On the server, ICA separates application logic from the user interface and executes 100% of the application on the server. The ICA network protocol transports keystrokes, mouse clicks and screen updates over standard protocols to the client, consuming less than 5 kilobits-per-second of network bandwidth. On the client, users see and work only with the application's interface. ICA's flexibility brings manageable, high-performance deployment of Windows-based applications to mobile professionals, telecommuters, branch office workers and extended enterprise users over any kind of network connection–dial-up, LAN, WAN and Internet–to any type of client or device, including Windows CE devices. This distributed Windows architecture allows Windows 16- and 32-bit applications to perform at very high speed over low and high bandwidth connections. In October 1998 Citrix announced the availability of its ICA Client for Windows CE operating system, Handheld PC Professional Edition and the third-generation software from Microsoft Corp. for the handheld PC. The ICA Client for Windows CE complements the already extensive cross-platform availability of ICA for other operating systems, including UNIX, Macintosh, Java and DOS/Windows, as well as other embedded operating systems, including pSOS and QNX.
About Citrix Citrix Systems, Inc. is the global leader in application-server software and services that offer "Digital Independence(TM)" the ability to run any application on any device over any connection, wireless to Web. Citrix's solutions enable organizations of all types, from major enterprises to emerging Application Service Providers (ASPs), to reach more users, with more applications, in more locations – and achieve this with record speed, greater predictability and lower costs. Founded in 1989, Citrix today is one of the world's fastest-growing software companies, with more than 100,000 customers worldwide, including 99 of FORTUNE 100 firms. Its products, including MetaFrame(TM) software and Independent Computing Architecture (ICA(R)), a core application-server technology, have been widely adopted by the corporate mainstream to achieve key business goals. The firm, which markets its solutions through value-added resellers, system integrators and OEM licensees, is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Citrix is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CTXS and was recently named to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. For more information, please visit the Citrix Web site at http://www.citrix.com
For Citrix Investors Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding current or future financial performance, management's plans and objectives for future operations, product plans and performance, management's assessment of market factors, as well as statements regarding the strategy and plans of the company and its strategic partners, constitute forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks associated with the company's reliance upon its strategic relationships with Microsoft and other strategic partners, dependence upon broad-based acceptance of the company's ICA protocol, management of growth, market acceptance of new products or new versions of existing products, the possibility of undetected software errors, and dependence on proprietary technology, as well as risks of downturns in economic conditions generally, and in the software industry specifically, and risks associated with competition, competitive pricing pressures and year 2000 compliance efforts of the company and third parties on which the company is dependent. For a more detailed description of the risk factors associated with the company, please refer to the company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30th, 1999, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999, on file with the Commission
Citrix(R), WinFrame(R) and ICA(R) are registered trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. MultiWin(TM) and MetaFrame(TM) are trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. for which there are pending applications for registration in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
CONTACT:
Citrix Systems, Inc., Fort Lauderdale
Robert Bartolotta, 954/267-3193 [email protected]
or
Greenough Communications Group
Gillian Farquhar, 617/451-1486 [email protected]
or
For Citrix product information: 1-800-437-7503