Dell Wyse’s Project Ophelia Enables Cloud Mobility for VDI

Dell’s Wyse Technology announces Project Ophelia, an Android-based cloud mobility solution for consumers and business professionals. Ophelia is a dongle-sized hardware equipped with a mobile high-definition link (MHL) port, which is the same port seen on standard Android phones. Designed to work with virtualization environments like Citrix, Microsoft, and VMware, Ophelia can be powered via the MHL port or through USB connectivity.

Dell touts Ophelia as the solution to address the need of a mobile workforce base for larger high-definition digital display when accessing cloud-based applications in the absence of wide-display-capable devices, such as desktop computers and tablets. Dell claims that the Wyse-powered Ophelia can turn an ordinary display screen into a real-time vehicle for mobile personnel to access and share enterprise apps and their personal cloud.

And since it is managed by Dell Wyse Cloud Client Manager software-as-a-service (SaaS), access to the device can be restricted to the appropriate individual having the right access and permissions. Permissions can be enabled or disabled according to user and location.

Ophelia is said to come in handy for highly mobile workers bereft of their preferred laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Built on Android 4 OS, the Ophelia dongle is powered by the monitor used with it, so the need for batteries is eliminated. With a Wi-Fi-enabled or Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, it supports web browsing, media playback, and social networking, while sporting a remote desktop for securely connecting to back-end systems.

Ophelia is specifically marketed to “cloud access providers wishing to provide an attractively priced device included with carrier Internet/wireless services.” It will be available in the first half of 2013.

“People are increasingly requiring access to digital content while on the go, in both their work and personal lives,” said Tarkan Maner, vice president and general manager of Cloud Client Computing at Dell. “Mobile devices have small screens, tablets and PCs aren’t always convenient to haul around, and all these devices require batteries that can run down. ‘Project Ophelia’ turns capable TVs and monitors into personal and reliable Wi-Fi enabled work or entertainment stations – all managed easily by IT via Dell Wyse Cloud Client Manager.”

Similarly, desktop mobilization is at the heart of iTwin Connect’s consumer-focused two-part AES-256-bit-encrypted USB device. One end of the stick is cloud-enabled by a PC. The other end is linked to any PC that serves as an endpoint. iTwin Connect also has both remote desktop and remote file access capabilities. (KOM) Link. Link. Link.