Steps to Take Before Choosing a Business Continuity Partner

Citrix and its business partners are poised to benefit from Microsoft’s revision of Windows NT Terminal Server pricing earlier this week (Earlier Story). Terminal Server is based on Citrix technology, and the new Microsoft licensing structure will allow Citrix’s MetFrame product to be rolled out across the Web. The key change from Citrix’s point of view was the introduction of the Internet Connector licence for Terminal Server. For a fee of $9,999 this allows 200 anonymous concurrent connections to a Terminal Server system, so at last makes it feasible for Application Service Providers to give Internet users access to Win32 server applications on some kind of rental or fee basis. Citrix has been waiting for Microsoft to introduce something of this sort for well over a year now, and Citrix partners such as Telecomputing have been ready to roll with more widespread ASP programmes just as soon as the licensing model allowed it. Citrix now says it will deliver a version of its MetaFrame product packaged for Internet use, and speaking to The Register last night Telecomputing co-founder Jostein Elkeland said the move would be of great benefit, although he stressed that the ASP business covered a wide range of platforms, rather than just Win32. Norway-based Telecomputing offers data centre management and back-office support for enterprise applications, including security, helpdesk, back-up, data storage and client support. While in general Application Service Provision is something companies are testing rather than selling, Telecomputing has the distinction of actually having customers for real, live services. The company currently works with a range of European organisations, and has been rolling out its services in the US via an alliance with UUNET WorldCom. The arrival of the Internet connector licence means that Telecomputing can now offer its services to a far wider range of customers - according to Elkeland, a major deal with an unnamed telecommunications company is in the works. ®

Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Backup/Recovery