Like TV, It's Branch Repeater

Citrix made four product announcements today, only one of which I will cover: Branch Repeater.

On May 15, I spoke with Sanjay Uppal, vice president of marketing for Citrix's Application Networking group, about the broadcast approach to streaming applications from servers. Terrestrial broadcasting relies on repeaters to boost the signal, extending the signal's reach. Branch Repeater uses a similar concept, even if the execution drastically varies. Repeaters provide local access to server-streamed applications like Office 2007.

"This is the first-of-its-kind dedicated platform for delivery to branch offices," Sanjay claimed. Local offices would locally stream the application, which is where the software license would be applied. Otherwise, applications would have to be streamed from servers located at further-away locations, potentially impeding performance.

"Microsoft and Citrix have been working on this for about two years," he added.

Citrix will offer three Branch Repeater models through its resellers:

• Model 100, 1M-bps throughput; $5,500
• Model 200, 2M-bps throughput; $7,500
• Model 300, up to 10M-bps throughput; $11,500

Enterprises "don't have to pay for Windows Server separately," Sanjay said. He said Windows Server is an integral part of the software. "The shipping version is 2003. By the end of the year, we'll be migrating to 2008."