VMware this morning announced VMware Horizon App Manager, a user-centric management service for accessing cloud applications.
VMware Horizon App Manager represents the first component of the company’s “Project Horizon” vision first previewed at VMworld 2010.
A datasheet (PDF) is available here.
The company says future releases of VMware Horizon will broker user access to a variety of application types, virtual Windows desktops and data resources, while delivering the security and control required by businesses. The result should be a simple, seamless user experience when accessing work resources across the private and public cloud on whatever device the user chooses.
At its core, VMware Horizon App Manager includes an identity as a service hub that extends a user’s existing identity in systems such as Microsoft Active Directory or other directory options, into third-party public cloud applications like Box.net, BroadVision, Google, Salesforce.com, WebEx, Workday and others.
This simplifies the management of multiple access credentials, a necessity brought about by the growing number of cloud applications now found in a typical enterprise.
In addition, the VMware Horizon App Manager provides an open, user-centric platform for accessing cloud applications within a single application portal that is accessible from a wide range of end-user devices.
Additional VMware Horizon App Manager features include:
– Multi-Platform/Multi-Device Support
– Enterprise Directory Federation/Cloud Identity Hub
– Standards Based Secure Authentication
– Application Provisioning
– Roles-Based Access and Reporting
Available today to select early access customers in North America and Asia Pacific Region, and via trials in other regions, VMware Horizon App Manager is $30.00 per user/per year.
Check out Robert Scoble’s interview with VMware lead for Project Horizon Noah Wasmer.
Update: Chris Hoff’s take: VMware’s Horizon App Manager – A Big Bet That Will Pay Off…