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Today: Parallels (makes cross-platform business productivity software)
Company description: Parallels Inc., a global leader in cross-platform solutions, makes it simple for customers to use and access the applications and files they need on any device or operating system. They help businesses and individuals securely and productively use their favorite devices and preferred technology, whether it’s Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chromebook, Linux or the cloud. Parallels’ solutions enable seamless delivery of virtual desktops and applications to any device, running Windows on a Mac, Mac management with Microsoft SCCM, and remote access to PCs and Mac computers from any device. Parallels has offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
Markets: Consumer, enterprise, channel
International Operations: UK, Australia, Russia, Estonia, China, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Malta
Product and Services
Parallels Desktop for Mac: A powerful solution for running Windows on Mac without rebooting. The company claims this is the No. 1 choice of Mac users for over 10 years, with more than 5 million copies sold.
Parallels Toolbox for Mac: Parallels Toolbox for Mac includes the Mac & Windows tools users always wished they had at their fingertips—at the low price of a single app.
Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition: A simple and powerful solution for delivering Windows and Windows applications to employees with Macs.
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS): A leading solution for delivering applications and virtual desktops to any device and operating system.
Parallels Access: Easy and reliable remote access to a desktop PC from anywhere. Access all your applications, files and computers in one place, and use desktop applications as if they were designed for your mobile device.
Parallels Mac Management for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM): This plug-in makes SCCM 1610 a robust platform for managing Mac computers by leveraging existing business skills, processes and systems.
Insight and Analysis
From a professional review on IT Central Station:
How has it helped my organization? “Enables deployment of remote apps from a central location.”
What is most valuable? “Ease of use in publishing apps and installing the agent. The interface is fairly intuitive after some tinkering. Although I inherited the app only two-thirds deployed, I was able to complete the deployment and service it over the last year without referring to any documentation.
“Other valuable features include the ability to set up security groups for accessing certain apps, the ability to add apps easily and centrally without touching the servers they’re hosted on. There are other features which we have not taken advantage of yet, but I’m sure will prove useful.”
What needs improvement? “Customer support, ease of end-user use. Opening a ticket should be available from the actual RAS console. It is cumbersome to go to a portal, hunt around for five minutes for a link to open a ticket, answer questions meant to direct you towards FAQs instead of live support, then fill out information (license #, version #, etc.) which could more easily be supplied by sending a ticket straight from the console with all of that information automatically specified.
“Currently in the RD Session Hosts–Sessions section, I can see what server a user is logged into but not what app he is using. Being able to do so would be immensely helpful when a non-technical user is complaining of issues, but I can’t tell which app he is using, and he is actually logged into multiple servers since they serve multiple apps.”
What do I think about the stability of the solution? “No issues with stability.”
From a professional review in G2 Crowd:
What do you like best? “What I love the most with Parallels is that when I’m not connected directly to the company’s server I can remote into any of the applications that I need to with if not at the office. So it’s great when I’m off sick or at home when a problem arises, I can pull out my computer and remote directly to all my work data. When the server is down at airport and we cannot check in I still have my laptop that we can remote in to get any check in data needed. It also has a really good mobile app too which is a really good plus.”
What do you dislike? “There’s not much that I don’t dislike with Parallels, at first it seemed a bit confusing but now it’s so easy.”
What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized? “Some business problems that I am solving with Parallels would be any work related issues that arises when I’m not in the office such as reservations systems issues that need to be solved so I can connect remotely and fix anything that needs to be fixed. The benefits of having Parallels when my works network is down is amazing. I can continue working with ease by connecting to the airports wifi and using Parallels.”
List of current customers: Mainly consumers, enterprise customers are vast for Remote Application Server & Mac Management SCCM
Delivery: software – cross-platform solutions
Pricing
- Parallels Desktop for Mac – $79.99/yr (Student Edition), $99.99/yr (Pro & Business Editions); Perpetual license for current customers: $49.99 to upgrade
- Parallels Toolbox for Mac & Windows: $19.99/year
- Parallels Remote Application Server: 1-year subscription ($99.99), 2-year subscription ($189.99), 3-year subscription ($269.99)
- Parallels Mac Management: Contact Sales Dept. – usentsales@parallels.com
- Parallels Access: 1-year plan (19.99/yr), 2-year plan ($34.99), Business Plan ($49.00/yr)
Other key players in this market: Citrix, VMware, Oracle
Go here for contact information.
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