18 January 2017

The company says premium Chromebooks, such as the recently unveiled ASUS C302 shown here, will become more attractive for business users.

Tech Data is preparing a programme and series of events to promote the concept of using Chrome devices as thin clients. 

It believes there is good potential in this area for the technology and wants to help more resellers become authorised to sell Chrome Device Management in the B2B market.

According to the IT distribution specialist, Chrome devices share many of the attributes of thin clients, are easy to maintain and affordable, and are also extremely portable and much easier to manage. 

“These are big advantages over traditional thin clients,” says Matt Beresford, Google business development manager at Tech Data. “Organisations can use Chrome devices in VMware or Citrix environments, and their easy mobility and appealing looks make them more attractive to users.”

With the App Runtime for Chrome (ARC) allowing Android apps to be run on Chrome OS, many more applications are easily accessible, says the firm. And with Chrome Device Management, it adds that organisations can manage large groups of users very easily, as apps can be rolled out, updated and withdrawn, and user access controlled.

Beresford goes on to point out that resellers need to be authorised to sell Chrome Device Management, but any business with experience of virtualisation and/or VDI, as well as a desire to invest the appropriate time and focus in the technology, should be able to qualify easily enough.

Tech Data reckons Chrome devices have also become more appealing to business and public sector users now that Microsoft is allowing owners to use the Office suite for Android on their devices. 

For devices with displays of 10.1-inchess or less, anyone that has a full subscription on any other platform will be able to have full and free access to Office 365 on their Chrome OS device. Users with larger Chrome machines will be able to access a restricted version of the productivity suite.

Beresford says: “It is already possible for Chrome OS to run Android apps and access the Google Play store, and with the Office 365 access available as well, Chromebooks and other Chrome OS devices are a much more attractive proposition for everyday business use.”