By Simon Quicke3 September 2008
Ability Software, best known for its Office suite
alternative, has raised a challenge to online remote access services aimed at
SME customers.
The vast majority of remote desktop services are sold direct
to users via the web cutting out the channel but Ability believes it can gain
the support of resellers with its BeAnywhere USB device and from customers with
prices that undercut the opposition.
David Hennell, group sales and development director at
Formjet, Ability Software’s parent, said that most remote access products were
in the £100 per desktop bracket.
“Remote access has always been very specialised and very
expensive but there have been attempts to make it a mass market,” he added “There
has never been a mass market for the channel to make money out of remote access.”
Among those attempts to encourage wider adoption of remote
access has been the Citrix Online service www.gotomypc.co.uk
which allows users the option to connect to three PCs paying on a monthly or
annual basis.
Hennell said that gottomypc had raised awareness in the
market but was not selling via the channel and therefore had no benefits for
resellers.
Products are being shipped into distribution next week but
Hennell said that it had already been briefing partners that had expressed
interest in its BeAnywhere product.
Citrix Online was unavailable for comment.
