The Shift from Transactional to Intelligent: How Computer Vision and Voice AI are Driving QSR Efficiency
At EuroShop 2026 this week, Posiflex is revealing the technical architecture behind their new FR Series (Food
Posiflex intel
Recognition) and SOK Series kiosks.
These units are specifically engineered to solve the “cafeteria bottleneck” by replacing manual PLU/barcode entry with a computer-vision-based “tray-to-payment” workflow.
Technical Breakdown: Posiflex FR & SOK Series
Multimodal Object Recognition: The FR Series uses high-performance AI (optimized for Intel-based edge processing) to identify multiple distinct food items on a tray simultaneously. It can distinguish between similar-looking items (e.g., different types of pastries or side dishes) regardless of their orientation or overlap on the tray.
Edge-First Processing: To ensure sub-second recognition speeds and maintain customer privacy, the AI inference happens locally on the kiosk hardware rather than in the cloud. This utilizes Intel Core™ Ultra processors to handle the intensive computer vision workloads without lag.
The “SOK” Series Voice Layer: While the FR series handles visual recognition, the SOK Series integrates AI Voice Interaction. This allows for a multimodal interface where customers can visually confirm their tray and use natural language to add items (e.g., “Add a large water”) or modify orders without touching the screen.
Loss Prevention Integration: The system includes an automated validation layer that compares the visually identified items against the final transaction, flagging discrepancies in real-time to reduce “shrink” in self-service environments.
Modular “Scenario-Driven” Design: The hardware is built with a modular internal architecture, allowing operators to swap between weighing scales, RFID readers, or vision-only modules depending on the specific QSR or cafeteria layout.
Intel’s Role in this Architecture
Intel is the “silicon backbone” for these specific Posiflex units. By utilizing the OpenVINO™ toolkit, Posiflex has optimized their vision models to run efficiently on Intel’s integrated GPUs (iGPUs) and NPUs (Neural Processing Units), which significantly reduces the thermal footprint—allowing these high-power AI features to run in the relatively cramped, fanless enclosures typical of sleek kiosk designs.
Technical Breakdown: Intel Inside the SOK Series
The Processor: Specifically, these units are using 13th/14th Gen Intel Core (Raptor Lake) silicon. While the standard POS terminals often use the Celeron J6412 (Elkhart Lake) for basic transactions, the SOK Series requires the higher thread count and integrated graphics performance of Raptor Lake to handle the AI voice interaction and real-time inference.
The “AI” Engine: To power the “Tray-to-Payment” food recognition (FR Series) and the natural language processing in the SOK units, Posiflex is utilizing the Intel OpenVINO™ toolkit. This allows the AI models to run on the processor’s integrated GPU and NPU, keeping the kiosk responsive without needing a discrete (and heat-intensive) graphics card.
Reliability Specs: These are part of the Intel Premium POS Validation Program, meaning the Raptor Lake implementation is specifically tuned for “extreme uptime”—high-heat, 24/7 retail environments where traditional consumer-grade chips might throttle.
Recommendations for POS for Restaurants (small restaurants)
Based on the article from Kiosk Industry, here is a summary of the top-rated restaurant POS systems for small and budget-conscious businesses in 2026.
The report notably excludes industry giants like Toast and NCR Aloha, arguing that they are often too complex or expensive for the “smallest” restaurant category. Instead, it identifies three primary recommendations based on specific business needs:
The Top Three Recommendations
Square (Best for Startups & Mobile): Recognized as the most budget-friendly option. It is ideal for food trucks, pop-ups, and new restaurants due to its free plan and low hardware barrier, though it lacks some high-end full-service features.
Clover (Best for Growing Teams): Recommended for those wanting robust, all-in-one hardware and deeper analytics. It has higher monthly fees but offers better long-term flexibility and loyalty integration.
TouchBistro (Best for Table Management): A restaurant-specific solution that excels in guest management and dining room control. It is iPad-based, which requires a separate hardware investment in Apple products.
Honorable Mentions & Specialized Tools
SpotOn: Highly competitive rates for higher-volume establishments.
SumUp: Best for micro-businesses with sporadic sales due to its ultra-low reader cost and zero minimums.
FoodTec: Highlighted as a “punch above its weight” option for specific niches like pizza delivery and multi-unit chains.
Critical Advice for Small Operators
Connectivity is Key: The article strongly advises spending an extra $30–$50 per month on a backup connection (like DPL Wireless) to avoid downtime, as most cloud-based systems (like Toast or Square) have significant feature limitations when offline.
Beware of “Free” Bundles: Small businesses are cautioned against “Free POS” offers from generic processors, which often hide high transaction rates and punitive exit fees.
Low-Volume Optimization: For restaurants processing under $10,000/month, flat-rate pricing (Square/Zettle) is usually better than “Interchange Plus” models, which only provide savings at higher volumes (typically $20k+).
Systems to Avoid (for Tight Budgets)
The article specifically steers budget-sensitive SMBs away from Orders.co (due to fee opacity), POS Nation (clunky for retail), and Oracle Micros/Simphony Essentials (excessive enterprise complexity for a single location).
CSUN – See LG Kiosk with Dot Inc. – Accessible kiosk
LG at CSUN with Dot Braille
Two notable things stand out: LG is clearly positioning this as an evolution of its Gen2 accessible kiosks, and they are now publicly tying that roadmap to Dot’s full braille/tactile module and multi‑modal access (audio, sign language, braille) at CSUN, which reinforces their “Better Life for All” accessibility narrative.
From LG — “We are excited to announce that LG will be showcasing our co-developed kiosk with Dot at the upcoming CSUN event. The event will be held at the Anaheim Marriott from March 11 to March 13, and you can find us at Booth #703. This innovative kiosk builds on the existing Gen2 accessibility features and includes additional solutions such as a screen reader, sign-language guidance, and a braille module. We believe these enhancements will significantly improve accessibility for all users.”
Details – Locations, DOT booth, Vispero Booth
The kiosk exhibition will take place from March 11 to 13 at the Anaheim Marriott, Marquis Ballroom.
The correct booth number is #703, which is LG’s booth
Grand Ballroom + Marquis Ballroom are exhibit areas
DOT is in booth 603 and that is where you find LG we think
Why Mini PCs Are Replacing Traditional PCs Inside Self-Service Kiosks in Asia
Across China and the wider APAC region, the computer inside a kiosk is getting smaller. Five to eight years ago, many self-service machines used full-size desktop PCs mounted inside the cabinet. Today, more OEMs are choosing mini PCs, thin clients, or compact industrial boxes instead.
This shift is not only about hardware trends. It reflects how Asian operators manage space, cost, power consumption, and long-term maintenance across large deployments.
What Is Inside a Kiosk Today in Asia?
In China, most newly deployed kiosks use one of three computing types:
x86 mini PCsAndroid boxes (ARM-based)
Fanless industrial embedded PCs
On platforms such as Alibaba and 1688, compact x86 systems from brands like Beelink, Shenzhen MeLE Technologies, and Shenzhen JWIPC Technology are widely listed for kiosk, POS, and digital signage use.
These units are typically small form factor boxes with SSD storage, multiple USB ports, dual HDMI outputs, and support for Windows or Linux. Many are fanless or use low-noise cooling systems designed for 24/7 operation.
Compared with a traditional desktop tower, these mini PCs are often no larger than a paperback book. They can be mounted behind a display, inside a narrow cabinet, or on a VESA bracket.
Why Mini PCs and Thin Clients Fit Kiosks
Size and Mounting
Space inside a kiosk is limited. Designers must fit printers, QR scanners, bill acceptors, card readers, speakers, and power modules in a compact enclosure.
A mini PC can be fixed behind the screen or on the side wall of the cabinet. This simplifies internal wiring and allows thinner, more modern kiosk designs. For OEMs competing on appearance and footprint, this is a major advantage over bulky desktop PCs.
Power and Heat
Traditional desktop PCs often consume over 150W under load. In contrast, many mini PCs based on low-power processors operate between 10W and 30W.
Lower power consumption means:
Less internal heat
Smaller cooling fans
Reduced dust intake
Lower failure rates
In hot and humid regions such as southern China or Southeast Asia, heat management directly affects reliability. Lower-power systems help maintain stable operation in non-air-conditioned environments.
Reliability and Maintenance
Mini PCs usually rely on SSD storage and have fewer moving parts than desktop towers. If a unit fails, technicians can replace the entire box quickly without disassembling the kiosk.
For operators managing hundreds or thousands of terminals, fast swap-out capability reduces downtime and labor cost.
Cost and Supply Chain Advantage
China’s electronics ecosystem allows mini PCs to be produced at large scale with competitive pricing. OEMs can source standardized hardware quickly without waiting for customized motherboard production.
This availability makes mini PCs attractive for projects that require fast rollout across multiple cities.
The Role of Intel-Based Mini PCs
Many kiosks in Asia still use x86 architecture because retail and government software often runs on Windows. Mini PCs using processors from Intel, including N-series or compact Core-based platforms, are common.
For self-service applications, this provides:
Smooth 1080p or 4K video playback
Dual-screen support (operator + customer display)
Stable USB connectivity for scanners and payment devices
Long lifecycle availabilityIn most kiosk scenarios, a low-power Intel mini PC delivers sufficient performance without the excess power draw of a full desktop.
Examples from China and APAC
Supermarket Self-Checkout
Large Chinese supermarket chains are deploying compact self-checkout stations. These machines must support barcode scanning, weighing scales, digital receipts, and payment terminals. A mini PC provides enough computing power while fitting inside a slim checkout frame.
A traditional desktop PC would increase cabinet size and cooling requirements without improving functionality.
Metro and Transit Ticketing
Metro ticket vending machines in cities across China and parts of Southeast Asia operate nearly 24 hours a day. Space inside these cabinets is limited due to cash modules and ticket printers.
Fanless mini PCs reduce dust intake and handle continuous operation more effectively than larger desktop systems.
Hospital Registration Kiosks
Public hospitals in China are expanding self-service registration and payment kiosks. These systems integrate ID card readers, QR scanners, and thermal printers.
Mini PCs allow quick hardware replacement if needed, which is critical in high-traffic medical environments.
Personal Observation: China vs. Western Hardware Choices
From my observation, Chinese kiosk manufacturers focus strongly on cost efficiency, compact design, and fast deployment. The hardware must be affordable, easy to replace, and stable under continuous use.
In Western industry , there is often more emphasis on brand-name industrial PCs and rugged certifications. In China, many operators are comfortable using reliable local mini PC brands if they meet performance and stability requirements.
Price, space efficiency, and low power consumption are often more important than brand prestige. As a result, mini PCs and thin clients are becoming the default computing platform inside self-service kiosks across China and much of APAC.
From “Unmanned Stores” to Intelligent Retail Systems
Around 2018, the global retail industry became fascinated with the idea of the “unmanned store.” Retailers began experimenting with cashierless checkout systems, computer vision technology, and automated payment kiosks. The goal was simple: reduce labor costs while improving customer convenience.
However, many of these early projects focused primarily on automating the checkout process. While removing the cashier improved efficiency, the rest of the retail infrastructure—inventory systems, supply chain logistics, and merchandising strategies—often remained unchanged. As a result, the early unmanned store model proved difficult to scale beyond pilot deployments.
By 2026, the industry has moved beyond this phase into what analysts now describe as Phygital 2.0. In this new stage, artificial intelligence is no longer limited to front-end applications. Instead, AI is becoming a core infrastructure layer connecting physical stores, digital platforms, and logistics networks.
AI as the Backbone of Retail Operations
Modern retail environments increasingly rely on AI-driven analytics and real-time data processing. Edge computing devices deployed in stores collect information from cameras, sensors, payment terminals, and digital displays.
These systems allow retailers to analyze customer behavior patterns, monitor product availability, and adjust promotions dynamically. For example, AI vision systems can detect when shelves are running low on inventory and automatically trigger restocking alerts. At the same time, digital signage can update promotional messages based on customer demographics or real-time demand.
The result is a retail environment that operates with continuous data feedback, allowing stores to respond quickly to changing consumer behavior.
The Rise of Agent-to-Agent Retail Systems
One of the key technological developments supporting this transformation is the emergence of Agent-to-Agent (A2A) architectures.
In an A2A system, multiple specialized AI agents perform different tasks and communicate with each other. One agent may focus on product recommendations, another on demand forecasting, while others manage warehouse logistics or marketing automation.
Major digital commerce ecosystems such as Alibaba and JD.com are actively experimenting with these distributed AI systems. By allowing autonomous AI agents to exchange data and coordinate decisions, retailers can create a self-optimizing operational environment that reacts quickly to demand fluctuations and customer preferences.
Digital Humans and New Forms of Customer Engagement
Another visible development in modern retail is the use of multimodal digital humans.
For example, JD.com has developed a virtual host known as Yanxi. This AI-powered digital assistant can host livestream shopping events, answer customer questions, and explain product features using natural language interaction.
Unlike traditional chatbots, digital humans combine several advanced technologies including speech recognition, computer vision, and generative AI. They are capable of interacting with both online audiences and in-store customers through smart displays or kiosks.
These systems can operate 24 hours a day and support thousands of simultaneous interactions. In many cases, digital hosts can operate at approximately one-tenth the cost of human staff, making them an attractive option for retailers operating large-scale livestream commerce platforms.
The Role of Kiosks and Edge Computing in Smart Stores
While cloud AI platforms handle large-scale data analysis, edge computing devices inside physical stores remain essential for real-time retail operations.
Smart kiosks, self-service terminals, and compact industrial mini PCs serve as the local processing layer within the retail infrastructure. These devices connect cameras, touch displays, sensors, and payment systems while running AI inference models directly at the edge.
By processing data locally, edge systems reduce network latency and allow stores to respond immediately to customer interactions. For example, a kiosk may identify a customer’s product selection, retrieve pricing data, display recommendations, and complete a payment transaction within seconds.
Compact computing platforms such as mini PCs are increasingly used because they provide high computing performance in a small form factor, making them suitable for embedded retail environments like vending machines, self-checkout stations, and smart kiosks.
Real-World Examples of AI-Driven Retail
Several retail companies are already demonstrating how AI infrastructure can reshape the shopping experience.
One well-known example is Amazon’s Amazon Go stores. These locations use computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine learning algorithms to enable a “Just Walk Out” shopping experience, where customers can pick up items and leave without traditional checkout.
In China, Alibaba operates the Hema (Freshippo) supermarket chain, which integrates mobile ordering, automated warehouse fulfillment, and in-store analytics. Customer data from the mobile app feeds directly into inventory systems, enabling rapid restocking and personalized promotions.
Meanwhile, JD.com has been expanding AI-powered logistics systems and digital human livestream hosts to support its rapidly growing e-commerce ecosystem.
These examples illustrate how AI is no longer a single feature but a multi-layered infrastructure connecting stores, digital platforms, and supply chains.
A View from China
From China’s perspective, the evolution toward Phygital 2.0 has been accelerated by the country’s unique digital ecosystem. High mobile payment adoption, large-scale e-commerce platforms, and the widespread popularity of livestream commerce have created an environment where new retail technologies can be deployed at scale.
Companies such as Alibaba and JD.com are using AI agents, digital humans, and intelligent logistics systems to create highly integrated retail infrastructures. Their large-scale experimentation provides valuable insights into how physical retail and digital intelligence may converge in the future.
As these technologies mature, the concept of the “Sentient Store”—a retail environment where AI continuously analyzes, predicts, and optimizes operations—may become a defining model for the next generation of global retail systems. China’s experience demonstrates that AI is not merely enhancing retail interfaces; it is becoming the core infrastructure powering the future of commerce.
Acer is effectively becoming a strategic “anchor shareholder” and distribution/solutions partner for Posiflex Group’s SDA-based AIoT platform, which should tighten the Acer–Posiflex ecosystem in POS, kiosks, and embedded edge while putting competitive pressure on other PC/embedded vendors and independent kiosk/POS players.
Strategic implications for Acer
Acer is converting from a pure PC/IT brand into a commercial AIoT and B2B solutions company by owning Enrich, Embedded City and all Posiflex preferred shares (~29% economic interest in Posiflex).
The deal gives Acer direct exposure to a global POS–kiosk–AIoT stack: Posiflex (POS/kiosk hardware), Portwell (embedded/edge compute), and KIOSK Information Systems (managed self‑service).
Acer can now bundle PCs, edge compute, POS, kiosks, and services as a single vendor offer into retail, QSR, hospitality, and transportation accounts, improving account control and deal size.
Implications for Posiflex Group (Posiflex, Portwell, KIS)
Posiflex gains Acer’s global channel, Highpoint/Enfinitec service networks, and balance sheet, which are important for big multi‑country rollouts and SLAs.
SDA (Scenario‑Defined Appliance) is reinforced: Acer becomes another large “anchor” systems partner feeding software‑defined scenarios (ISVs, operators’ software teams) onto Posiflex hardware/services.
Over time, you should expect tighter integration between Acer PCs/monitors and Posiflex POS/kiosks (shared platforms, common management, maybe joint branding in some regions).
Market and competitive impact (POS, kiosk, embedded)
This pushes Acer into the same strategic conversation as NCR Voyix, Diebold Nixdorf, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions in retail and hospitality—but with a more AIoT/edge‑centric orientation via Portwell and KIS.
For ISVs and integrators, Acer–Posiflex becomes a de‑risked “one‑throat‑to‑choke” supplier: hardware, deployment, and global field service under a larger parent, which may pull volume away from smaller white‑box and regional vendors.
In embedded/edge, Portwell plus Acer’s scale makes them a more serious alternative to Advantech, Aaeon, IEI, etc., especially where customers care about long‑life, scenario‑specific appliances.
Specific to kiosks and self-service
KIOSK Information Systems, already part of Posiflex Group, now effectively sits under Acer’s umbrella influence, so you can expect: more capital for vertical solutions, more cross‑selling through Acer’s enterprise accounts, and stronger managed services positioning.
This likely accelerates AI‑enabled kiosk rollouts (vision, loss‑prevention, tap‑to‑pay, etc.), as illustrated by Posiflex’s AI‑enabled SCO and tap‑to‑pay systems being showcased as core group capabilities.
For retailers/QSRs, this means more pre‑packaged SDA solutions (hardware + OS + middleware + ISV app + lifecycle services), reducing need for bespoke kiosk engineering but potentially shrinking hardware vendor diversity.
Brief risk/constraint angles
Posiflex remains a separate listed entity, so Acer is influential but not a 100% owner; strategy will still need to balance founding families, Esquarre Capital, and public shareholders.
Channel conflict risk: Acer’s traditional channel partners could overlap with Posiflex/KIS integrators, so execution quality on segmentation and SDA positioning will determine how much value is actually realized.
What Are Impacts To US Kiosk Manufacturers
Acer–Posiflex–KIOSK shifts KIOSK firmly into the “global platform + scale” camp, while Olea remains a high‑touch, design‑led specialist; they will increasingly sell different kinds of value into many of the same RFPs.
SDA vs custom: Posiflex’s Scenario‑Defined Appliance model aims to pre‑package hardware + ISV + services for named scenarios; that favors repeatable, high‑volume, somewhat standardized solutions. Olea’s heritage is high‑touch standard‑plus‑custom work (outdoor, access control, biometrics, complex integrations), where SDA “appliances” are less plug‑and‑play and custom engineering is still valued.
Where Olea still has clear lanes
Design‑critical environments: Theme parks, stadiums, museums, high‑brand‑equity retail, complex access‑control—areas where Olea’s custom industrial design, enclosures, and peripheral flexibility win on look/feel and site constraints.
Security / identity / access: Partnerships like HID facial/ID verification and hyper‑modular security kiosks give Olea strong positioning in secure check‑in and ID‑heavy flows, less about commodity checkout.
OEM / white‑label: Olea’s OEM posture for ISVs and solutions providers who want “their” kiosk design without tying to a full Acer/Posiflex ecosystem remains attractive.
Expect more RFP language leaning toward “single global platform partner” and “pre‑integrated SDA solution,” which favors KIOSK/Posiflex/Acer in large, standardized programs.
Olea will stay very competitive where: design, outdoor performance, complex peripherals, or partner flexibility trump global scale—so you’ll likely see more Olea wins in high‑complexity, high‑touch projects, and more Acer/Posiflex wins in standardized global rollouts.
What About Europe and Asia
Acer becoming the largest shareholder in Posiflex Group effectively creates a better‑capitalized, globally integrated “Euro‑Asian” platform competitor, which puts price and scale pressure on many European and Asian kiosk/POS manufacturers while also opening some partnership and consolidation opportunities.
Direct pressure on European manufacturers
Posiflex Group is already positioning itself as a global top‑5 brand in POS and kiosk, with KIOSK Europe GmbH and KIOSK Embedded Systems GmbH offering “made in Europe” solutions from a Pan‑EU base. Acer’s backing strengthens that footprint, making it harder for mid‑tier European OEMs (local kiosk fabricators, regional POS box vendors) to compete on scale, lifecycle service, and SDA‑style packaged offers.
With Acer’s channel and field service reach layered on top of Posiflex/KIOSK’s Düsseldorf hub, more large European tenders (retail, QSR, transit) can be addressed by a single integrated platform, which threatens European specialists that historically won on proximity and local support rather than global standardization.
Expect sharper competition for “McDonald’s‑style” standardized self‑ordering programs in Europe, where Pyramid (Diebold Nixdorf), Elo, and local kiosk fabricators have been strong; Acer–Posiflex–KIOSK now offers a comparable scale story plus SDA/AIoT messaging.
Impact on Asian manufacturers
Posiflex already manufactures in Taiwan with ISO‑certified facilities and has strong APAC distribution; Acer’s investment reinforces this as a regional AIoT hub, competing more directly with Chinese and Korean kiosk/POS vendors on both quality and integration.
Chinese suppliers like HiStone, Taiyun, CCL and others that have been growing in QSR and retail across Asia and the Middle East now face a regional peer that can match them on cost‑effective hardware but add a stronger global brand, deeper SDA solutions, and closer ties to Western ISVs.
For Asian kiosk/embedded OEMs that are more engineering‑driven than brand‑driven, Acer–Posiflex’s “Commercial AIoT platform” positioning pushes them toward either white‑label manufacturing roles for global players or toward doubling down on vertical niches (e.g., transportation, government, banking) where local standards and relationships still dominate.
Channel, ISV, and SDA dynamics
The SDA (Scenario‑Defined Appliance) model favors vendors that can ship repeatable, pre‑certified solutions with embedded ISV software and remote management (e.g., Canopy, AI analytics), which Acer–Posiflex is clearly investing in. European and Asian manufacturers who remain “metal + PC + screen” without a solution stack risk being pushed down to commodity status in big chains’ eyes.
However, SDA also creates a clearer layer for independent manufacturers to plug into as hardware partners in segments where Acer–Posiflex doesn’t want to specialize (e.g., highly customized form factors, rugged or regulated sectors); here, regional vendors may win as ODMs under another brand’s SDA umbrella.
Likely strategic responses for EU/Asia OEMs
Move up‑stack: Invest in their own scenario packages (e.g., “drive‑thru SDA,” “pharmacy SDA”) with ISV alliances, analytics, and fleet management, mirroring Posiflex but adapted to local regulations and use‑cases.
Deepen specialization: Focus on sectors where local standards/regulators, outdoor/environmental complexity, or mechanical customization matter more than global standardization—transport ministries, rail, healthcare, banking, and smart‑city kiosks.
Partner or consolidate: Join forces with POS, payment, or screen vendors (similar to how Diebold Nixdorf and Pyramid pair, or Elo partners with kiosk builders) to present more complete solutions to global brands that still want a “European” or “Asian” stack.
Scales well for smart cities, healthcare booths, and autonomous retail.
Limitations
Much higher capital cost
Requires new deployments instead of upgrading existing fleets.
Strategic Insight
The article’s broader argument:
Western markets: tend to retrofit AI into existing infrastructure to control cost and extend asset life.
China and some emerging markets: are increasingly deploying AI-native infrastructure, which may enable faster innovation and leapfrog legacy systems.
This difference mirrors a broader technology pattern where retrofit systems generate incremental improvements, while AI-native platforms enable new service models and automation levels.
Bottom Line
Retrofit AI ($200 upgrade): practical and cost-efficient for large installed kiosk fleets.
AI-native terminals: more expensive but unlock deeper automation and new services.
In short:
Retrofit = modernization of the past.
AI-native = infrastructure for the next generation.
Summary — China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Hardware Self-Reliance (2026–2030)
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) signals a major shift toward technological self-reliance and industrial independence, especially in hardware sectors such as semiconductors, AI accelerators, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. The strategy reflects Beijing’s response to geopolitical tensions and export controls on advanced technologies, particularly from the United States.
Key Themes
1. Technology Sovereignty as National Policy The plan elevates homegrown “core technologies”—including chips, AI infrastructure, and advanced materials—to strategic priority. The government aims to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and ensure domestic control over critical components and manufacturing capabilities.
2. Industrial Upgrading and Manufacturing Strength China intends to move from low-cost production toward high-tech manufacturing dominance, deploying AI, robotics, and digital systems across the entire industrial base to improve productivity and competitiveness.
3. Massive State-Backed Innovation Push The plan includes expanded investment in R&D, computing infrastructure, and talent development, with technology sectors such as AI, quantum computing, 6G, robotics, and biotech positioned as future economic drivers.
4. Supply Chain Localization China is accelerating domestic substitution for imported technology, especially in semiconductors and chip manufacturing equipment, aiming to secure supply chains against geopolitical disruptions.
5. From Research to Deployment Unlike earlier plans focused on breakthroughs, the new strategy prioritizes commercializing and scaling technologies across industry, ensuring innovations translate into real economic output.
Strategic Implication
The plan effectively positions China to compete for global leadership in hardware and deep-tech manufacturing, potentially reshaping supply chains and increasing competition for international vendors across electronics, AI hardware, robotics, and industrial systems.
✅ Bottom line: China is shifting from technology adoption to technology ownership, building a fully domestic hardware ecosystem that spans chips, AI infrastructure, robotics, and advanced manufacturing.
Across the global self-service industry, kiosks are no longer simple transaction machines. In 2026, many deployments are evolving into Edge AI platforms capable of processing computer vision, voice interaction, and real-time analytics directly on the device.
This shift is being driven by advances in processors from Intel, along with new software frameworks and the growing ecosystem of kiosk manufacturers and system integrators.
Instead of relying purely on cloud services, more self-service systems are now designed to process data locally at the edge.
Three major technology trends explain this transformation.
For many years, kiosks relied on low-cost processors such as Intel Celeron or Intel Atom platforms. Systems based on older chips like Intel Celeron J1900 were widely used in ticket kiosks, payment terminals, digital signage, and retail self-checkout machines.
These systems worked well when kiosk workloads were simple:
touch user interfaces
barcode scanning
cloud-based POS systems
However, modern kiosks increasingly require AI workloads, including:
product recognition
theft detection
facial authentication
customer analytics
These functions require dedicated AI acceleration. New processors such as Intel Core Ultra processors integrate Neural Processing Units (NPUs) that allow AI inference to run directly on the device.
Running AI locally at the edge offers several advantages:
lower latency for real-time decisions
improved privacy protection
reduced network bandwidth usage
For operators managing thousands of kiosks, this architecture significantly improves both performance and operational efficiency.
The Rise of the “Self-Service Store in a Box”
Retail deployments are also shifting toward integrated Edge AI systems.
Instead of installing separate hardware for POS terminals, cameras, digital signage, and analytics, many retailers are deploying a single edge computing node capable of handling multiple functions.
One of the key technologies enabling this model is OpenVINO, an AI toolkit developed by Intel. It allows developers to optimize and deploy computer vision models on Intel CPUs and GPUs.
In retail environments, this technology enables several new kiosk capabilities:
Smart Self-Checkout
Computer vision systems recognize products placed on the checkout surface without scanning barcodes.
Benefits include:
faster checkout
reduced shrinkage
automated fraud detection
Some retailers are also experimenting with AI systems that can take automated actions, such as adjusting digital signage pricing or directing customers to available checkout stations.
These developments are turning kiosks into interactive retail infrastructure rather than standalone machines.
Remote Management Becomes a Core Requirement
As kiosk networks grow larger, system management becomes more complex. Large retail or transportation deployments may include thousands of terminals spread across multiple cities.
Downtime can directly affect customer service and revenue.
For this reason, remote management technologies such as Intel vPro and Intel Active Management Technology are becoming increasingly important.
These platforms allow IT administrators to:
remotely power on or reboot systems
diagnose hardware problems
recover operating systems remotely
This “out-of-band” management capability reduces the need for on-site technician visits and helps maintain uptime across large kiosk fleets.
New Growth Areas: Healthcare and EV Infrastructure
Beyond retail, intelligent kiosks are expanding into other sectors.
Healthcare providers are deploying self-service terminals that support patient check-in, biometric identity verification, and remote consultations.
At the same time, EV charging stations are integrating edge computers to support license-plate recognition, payment processing, and dynamic energy management.
These applications require reliable industrial computing platforms capable of continuous operation.
Perspective from China
From China’s perspective, the growth of Edge AI kiosks is closely linked to the country’s strong manufacturing ecosystem. Chinese OEMs produce a wide range of industrial mini PCs, embedded motherboards, and kiosk computing systems used worldwide. By integrating platforms based on Intel processors, Chinese hardware manufacturers are helping accelerate the global deployment of Edge AI infrastructure in retail, healthcare, transportation, and smart city projects.
The move toward Intel-based Edge AI is a response to global demand for standardized, high-performance compute that can handle complex Western software stacks (like OpenVINO) more reliably than some ultra-low-cost alternatives.
Security – Edge AI is a solution to GDPR/biometric privacy concerns because the data (facial vectors for authentication) never has to leave the kiosk to hit the cloud.
In 2025 December we looked at Self-Service market as a whole. Here is summary of that —
TIG Core Market Report.jpg
Grand Total — Global Self-Service Technology Market (2024)
180 Billion – $235 Billion per year]
Hardware + software + services + warranty + AI
This is the correct “full stack” number for TIG/KMA positioning.
It’s 2026, lets take another look, in another way. One of our supporters asked TIG about it and its a good time to issue 2026.
Kiosks (global revenue market)
These sources are broadly consistent that kiosks are already a ~$30B+ market and grow to ~$45B–$63B by ~2030, depending on definition (interactive kiosks vs self-service kiosks, what’s included in services/software, etc.).
2026→2031 view (helpful if you want a near-term “5-year plan” slide): $16.24B (2026) → $28.41B (2031) (CAGR ~11.84%).
Touchscreens / interactive displays (the commercial side)
This is where some numbers often go off the rails because some “touchscreen display market” numbers include phones/tablets (not what we muan). For our use case, we want commercial touch displays / interactive displays (retail, hospitality, healthcare, kiosks, education, etc.).
Interactive display market (broader than just touch panels; often includes solutions): $48.70B (2024) → $90.68B (2032).
Cautionary example (too broad for your deck unless you explicitly say it includes consumer devices): Touch Screen Display market $76.36B (2023) → $194.44B (2032).
Global installed base (already deployed): defensible range
Anchor (2024–2026 timeframe)
Multiple major market trackers put the self-service/interactive kiosk revenue market in the ~$34B neighborhood for 2024.
Convert revenue → implied installed base (triangulation)
A kiosk “in the field” carries an annualized cost stack (capex amortization + software + support):
High base (more kiosks, lower spend): $34B / $4k ≈ 8.6M kiosks
Defensible installed base range (global): ~3–9 million deployed kiosks
A good “base case” midpoint for a pitch deck: ~5.5M.
This range is defensible because it’s constrained by a public revenue anchor (kiosk market size) and uses transparent unit economics rather than unverifiable “we think there are X kiosks” claims.
Bottom-up “sanity check” by vertical (ranges, not precision theater)
These are ranges we show as a banded bar chart (low/base/high). They’re designed to sum to the 3–9M triangulated envelope.
Suggested vertical split of deployed kiosks (global, already deployed)
QSR / Fast Casual ordering & pickup: 0.9M – 2.5M
High site counts + multi-lane drive-thru + dining room ordering drives volume.
Global cinema screens are commonly estimated around ~40k screens; multiplex footprints imply meaningful kiosk deployments at venues. (Use as directional only.)
Government / civic (DMV, benefits, courts, libraries, municipal payments): 0.10M – 0.35M
Slower rollouts but large installed base across jurisdictions.
Total (low/base/high):~2.45M / 5.50M / 8.85M
(Aligns tightly with the revenue-implied 3–9M envelope.)
Scenarios
We are big on evolving modalities coming into play in self-service (touchscreens are the mainstay),
What about Conversational AI?
SLIDE 1
Global Installed Base of Deployed Kiosks (2024–2026)
Headline
3 – 9 Million Self-Service Kiosks Deployed Globally Base Case: ~5.5 Million
The Asia-Pacific self-service kiosk market was valued at about USD 4.7 B in 2023 and is projected to reach ~USD 11.5 B by 2033, driven by digital transformation, cashless payments, AI-enabled interfaces, and contactless services across retail, healthcare, and transport sectors. (LinkedIn)
• QSRs in Asia Accelerate Digital Wallet & QR Code Adoption
Asia-Pacific QSR operators are overhauling POS and kiosk workflows as digital wallet and QR code payments surge, with non-cash payments projected to dominate point-of-sale transactions — reshaping ordering and checkout systems in kiosks and mobile POS. (QSR Media)
Asia hosts a diverse set of self-service brands (e.g., Kiosk Asia in Singapore, SmartOrder in India) that are gaining traction by deploying integrated digital platforms for retail, hospitality, and transportation automation. (cnmeiding.com)
• Digital Signage & Kiosk Industry Hubs in Asia
Asia has developed vibrant industry hubs and associations focused on kiosks, digital signage, miniPC/media players, and POS ecosystems, covering major markets like China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia — providing localized support, networking, and standards. (Self Service Kiosk Machine)
Regional Payments Impact: Asia’s rapid adoption of QR codes and e-wallets will increasingly influence kiosk UX, POS integration, and self-checkout flows — a trend worth tracking daily. (QSR Media)
Market Growth Signals: The Asia-Pacific kiosk market’s strong growth forecasts help contextualize broader headline news on adoption and vendor activity. (LinkedIn)
Local Innovation Spotlight: Highlighting regional vendors and their solution strategies (kiosks + POS + signage) will provide depth beyond global tech headlines. (cnmeiding.com)
Partner Tech Partners with Intel: How AI is Reshaping the Future of Self-Checkout
In today’s fast-paced retail world, self-checkout systems have shifted from a convenience to a standard expectation for consumers. Partner Tech, a global leader in smart POS and self-service solutions, is changing this experience with its AI-powered system that uses Intel Core processors.
AI-Driven Efficiency Revolution
At the core of Partner Tech’s solution is its AI software platform, Otter. By using computer vision and machine learning, it tackles a major issue in traditional self-checkout: identifying bulk items. Customers used to spend time scrolling through menus to find the right option when purchasing fruits or vegetables. This process was slow and often led to mistakes. Now, Otter’s Picklist Assistant automatically recognizes items, needing only confirmation from the customer. This approach reduces selection time to just 4 seconds and speeds up transactions significantly.
Smart Security and Loss Prevention
AI also enhances security. Partner Tech’s system includes smart security cameras and weight verification technology. AI algorithms can differentiate between accidental scanning mistakes and deliberate fraud, providing real-time alerts for possible theft situations, such as barcode swapping or unscanned products. This “invisible” security measure helps retailers cut losses while ensuring a smooth experience for honest customers.
Flexible Product Matrix
To cater to various types of retailers, Partner Tech offers three main products:
• Starling: A fully integrated, feature-rich solution perfect for large supermarkets and busy environments, with highly customizable hardware options.
• Alfred: A modular desktop solution that combines grocery store features with a compact size, ideal for shops with limited space.
• Paula: A compact all-in-one desktop machine designed for convenience stores and fast-food restaurants, supporting self-checkout and self-ordering with excellent space utilization.
A Chinese Perspective
In China, the retail industry is transforming through a deep integration of online and offline channels. Consumers here have high expectations for both efficiency and experience. Partner Tech’s AI self-checkout technology has great market potential if it integrates well with the local ecosystem. This includes connecting seamlessly with WeChat Pay and Alipay and improving recognition models for Chinese products, like bulk dried goods and fresh produce. Additionally, the Chinese market pays close attention to data privacy and compliance, which means these systems must follow relevant regulations during local deployment to protect user data. Moreover, with China’s large retail labor market, AI self-checkout does not just replace human workers. It frees employees from repetitive cashier tasks, allowing them to concentrate on better customer service and operational improvements, truly achieving “human-machine collaboration.”
Conclusion
Partner Tech’s partnership with Intel shows how AI technology can change self-checkout from a simple payment method into a smart, efficient, and secure retail hub. It reduces wait times and provides real profit increases for retailers by minimizing the need for intervention and preventing fraud. With ongoing technological advancements, the future of retail checkout will be more seamless, intelligent, and user-friendly.
The landscape of enterprise computing is shifting. As businesses adopt hybrid work models and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), thin clients have become critical for secure, manageable, and cost-effective endpoints. Central to this evolution is the adoption of Intel’s N-series and U-series processors as the default silicon, powering devices like the HP Elite t660 and modernized clients from manufacturers like 10ZiG. These processors deliver the ideal balance of performance, efficiency, and capability required for today’s demanding work environments.
Performance per Watt: The Efficiency Engine
Thin clients demand efficient processing to minimize power consumption and heat in centralized deployments. Intel’s latest N-series, exemplified by the N100 processor found in many 10ZiG thin clients, and the U-series, like the U300E in the HP Elite t660, are engineered specifically for this balance. The Intel U300E in the t660 provides robust performance for multitasking and video conferencing while maintaining energy efficiency, a key factor for 24/7 operation and achieving certifications like ENERGY STAR®. This performance-per-watt advantage translates directly into lower operational costs and a reduced environmental footprint.
Advanced Codec Support for Seamless Collaboration
Modern work is collaborative, making high-quality video conferencing a non-negotiable requirement. Intel’s integrated graphics within these CPU families include dedicated media engines with hardware-accelerated support for modern video codecs. This ensures that thin clients like the HP Elite t660 can smoothly handle video calls on platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Citrix, without taxing the central server. Users experience clear, fluid video and audio, making remote collaboration as effective as being in the office.
Multi-Monitor Productivity as Table Stakes
Productivity in finance, design, and control rooms often depends on multiple displays. This is where these processors shine. The Intel U300E in the HP Elite t660, for instance, supports up to four simultaneous 4K displays via its comprehensive port selection. This multi-monitor capability is no longer a luxury but a baseline expectation. It allows professionals to spread out applications, monitor real-time data, and enhance workflows, all driven efficiently from a compact, silent thin client.
A Foundation for Security and Manageability
Beyond raw performance, this silicon provides a stable foundation for the security-centric design of modern thin clients. Paired with operating systems like HP ThinPro or Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, these CPUs enable features like write-protected file systems and seamless integration with security dashboards like HP Wolf Security. The result is a hardened endpoint with a minimal local attack surface, crucial for industries like healthcare and finance.
In conclusion, the shift to Intel N-series and U-series CPUs represents a strategic alignment with the needs of modern IT. By offering an optimal blend of energy efficiency, robust media support for unified communications, and powerful multi-display capabilities, processors like the Intel U300E empower thin clients such as the HP Elite t660 to deliver a full, secure, and productive desktop experience from the cloud. For organizations future-proofing their endpoint strategy, this silicon is not just an option—it’s the intelligent default.
Perspective
China’s digital transformation story isn’t just about software or AI headlines. It’s also about rethinking the endpoint — how people actually work, access systems, and manage infrastructure at scale.
Chinese enterprises are under real pressure to modernize office models while tightening IT architecture. That’s where professional thin client platforms like the HP Elite t660 and 10ZiG come into play. The value isn’t just hardware specs or security certifications. It’s alignment with what the market actually demands right now: cost control, operational efficiency, supply-chain stability, and measurable energy reduction.
In sectors like finance, healthcare, government, and large-scale manufacturing, centralized endpoint management and cloud-based delivery are becoming standard practice. Long lifecycle hardware, lower power consumption, and centralized control aren’t marketing bullet points — they solve very practical challenges around uptime, sustainability, and long-term infrastructure planning.
There’s also the reality of hybrid work. Multi-screen 4K support and reliable video collaboration aren’t luxuries anymore; they’re baseline requirements for cross-regional teams operating at speed.
I wouldn’t describe these devices as just endpoints. In the right architecture, they become part of a broader strategy — secure, manageable, and sustainable digital operations. When done correctly, the endpoint stops being a vulnerability or cost center and becomes stable infrastructure that supports intelligent transformation instead of complicating it.
Nanonation Expands Platform to Amazon Signage Stick, Delivering Powerful, Affordable Digital Displays
Original Date November 2024 — Our insight — The Amazon Signage Stick is a worthy competitor for ultra low cost “budget” implementations for sure. Simple setup, purpose-built kiosk mode/autoreboot, compact and portable. Easy to integrate with Alexa and it is scalable. Maybe not the best for 4K playback? Some have said that. We checked and their QA tester reported that the Signage Stick played 4K videos better than most SoC platforms and at least as well as a typical PC player. Maybe not 24×7 enterprise-grade? Remains to be seen.
Having said that there are many situations where a super complex CMS is not required or even desired. Those come with their own heavy maintenance. Each situation has it own variables and one size never fits all. Purpose-built is main intent.
Having Nanonation is best of all though given their long experience in content, interaction and monitoring.
CMS aspects such as managing content is limited by 32GB of stick and most just use store and forward technique. We’ll see larger sticks and more intelligence. The stick is basically a modified Android OS.
click for full size – raspberry pi intel sdm
Related — Raspberry Pi Smart Display Module: coming soon. For those attending Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 in Barcelona, a visit to the Sharp booth might reveal something new, exciting, and not yet released…We’ve been working with Sharp Display Solutions Europe to develop the Raspberry Pi Smart Display Module: an adapter board for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 that is designed to deliver high-quality, low-power display experiences for professional signage applications
Overview: Remote Management API for Amazon Signage
Amazon Signage now offers a Remote Management API that lets content management systems (CMS) control and monitor Amazon Signage Stick devices more deeply — all through the CMS app interface rather than requiring manual, on-site intervention.
Good for basic troubleshooting functions.
Key Capabilities
With remote management enabled (via participating CMS partners), businesses can:
Device Control
Turn displays on/off to save energy and preserve screen life (dependent on TV CEC support).
Restart or factory reset Signage Sticks from the cloud without visiting the screen.
Health Monitoring
Real-time status of HDMI connection, memory, storage and Wi-Fi strength for reliable playback.
CPU usage and temperature monitoring for performance insights.
Check device info (serial number, MAC address, IP) to help with troubleshooting and tracking.
Remote Troubleshooting
Capture screenshots from the device remotely (helpful for verifying content or diagnosing issues).
Clear cache remotely to improve performance without manual access.
Amazon signage stick by Nanonation
Press Release
Lincoln, NE – November 19, 2025 — Nanonation, a leader in digital experience software with over 25 years of industry expertise, today announced the launch of their digital signage platform on the Amazon Signage Stick, a compact, cost-effective device designed to make digital signage more accessible than ever.
The purpose-built Amazon Signage Stick plugs directly into any TV, almost instantly transforming it into a dynamic digital display. When paired with Nanonation’s intuitive and powerful software, organizations of all sizes can easily manage content across their digital signage networks.
“Our goal with the Amazon Signage Stick is to bring professional-grade digital signage within reach for everyone — from large organizations managing complex networks to small businesses looking for a simple, affordable solution,” said Zac Rustad, CMO of Nanonation.
Scheduling and Monitoring and CMS
The Amazon Signage Stick delivers reliable, powerful performance at a low cost, while Nanonation’s platform provides the robust scheduling, monitoring, and content management tools that professionals expect. Backed by Nanonation’s U.S.-based support team, users can expect exceptional reliability and long-term success.
Whether you’re managing hundreds of screens or setting up your first digital sign, this new offering from Nanonation and Amazon Signage offers a scalable, dependable, and affordable solution that grows with your needs.
Giada is exhibiting at ICE Barcelona 2026, where visitors can find the team at Booth 3D70. At the show, Giada presents its latest innovations in embedded computing, designed to meet the demanding requirements of modern casino and gaming environments. ICE Barcelona is widely recognized as the premier international exhibition for gaming, entertainment, and technology, bringing together operators, system integrators, and technology providers from around the world to explore the future of the industry. Date: January 21, 2026 and Event:ICE Barcelona 2026 – a major international gaming, entertainment, and technology exhibition.
What Giada Is Highlighting
Giada is exhibiting its latest embedded computing solutions designed for the casino, gaming, and entertainment industries. The company is at Booth 3D70 during the show.
Featured Technologies on Display
1. Next-Generation Gaming Hardware
Purpose-built hardware engineered for high performance, stability, and long-term operation in demanding environments.
2. Edge AI Solutions
Intelligent computing solutions tailored for AI-driven casino and gaming applications.
Players and media tech suitable for gaming floors, lottery displays, and dynamic content workflows.
AMD-Powered Platform Highlights
Giada is demonstrating two new embedded systems:
D108
CB5-108 Both are built on AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series processors, offering:
Advanced graphics performance
AI acceleration (up to ~38 TOPS)
Compact industrial-grade design Ideal for real-time content processing, multi-display outputs, and long-term 24/7 operation on casino floors or digital signage deployments.
Stop By and Visit
Giada invites partners, customers, and industry professionals to visit them at the event to explore how their solutions support next-generation computing in gaming and entertainment.
Company Background
Founded in 1999
Headquarters in Shenzhen, China, with offices in Hong Kong and Europe
Specializes in digital signage players, edge computers, OPS/SDM modules, and embedded motherboards for enterprise customers worldwide
Giada Showcases Next-Generation Gaming and Edge AI Solutions at ICE Barcelona 2026
Leading innovator in embedded computing presents AMD-powered gaming platforms and edge AI solutions for the casino industry
Giada is exhibiting at ICE Barcelona 2026, where visitors can find the team at Booth 3D70. At the show, Giada presents its latest innovations in embedded computing, designed to meet the demanding requirements of modern casino and gaming environments.
ICE Barcelona is widely recognized as the premier international exhibition for gaming, entertainment, and technology, bringing together operators, system integrators, and technology providers from around the world to explore the future of the industry.
Giada Product Highlights
At the Giada booth, attendees will have the opportunity to explore:
Next-generation gaming hardware engineered for performance, stability, and long-term operation
Edge AI solutions tailored for intelligent casino applications
Digital signage players and media solutions for gaming and lottery environments
AMD–Powered Casino & Gaming Computing Platforms
At the show, Giada demonstrated two new computing devices (D108 and CB5-108) powered by AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series processors, delivering advanced graphics performance and on-chip AI acceleration in compact, industrial-grade platforms.
The AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series integrates a high-performance GPU with an AI-enabled NPU, offering up to 38 TOPS of AI performance. This powerful combination enables intelligent gaming, real-time content processing, and high-resolution multi-display output—making it ideal for modern casino floors, digital signage, and gaming machines that require stability, performance, and long-term reliability.
Welcome to join Giada
Giada looks forward to welcoming partners, customers, and industry professionals at ICE Barcelona 2026 to exchange ideas and explore how advanced computing solutions can drive the next wave of innovation in gaming and entertainment.
[English summary below] Dank des neuesten Firmware-Updates für IGEL Linux können Anwender ab sofort auch mit Linux-basierten Thin Clients über ein Microsoft Remote Desktop-Gateway auf ihre RDP-Umgebung zugreifen – ganz einfach und bequem über das Internet. Das verringert den Administrationsaufwand und erhöht gleichzeitig die Sicherheit.
Bremen 15. September 2014 – Mit dem kürzlich veröffentlichten Update von IGEL Linux baut der Bremer Thin und Zero Client-Spezialist die Funktionsbreite seines Betriebssystems weiter aus. Denn ab der neuesten Version 5.04.100 unterstützt die Firmware das Microsoft Remotedesktop-Gateway (RD-Gateway). Somit ist es ab sofort möglich, sich mit Linux-basierten IGEL Thin Clients (x86) direkt über das Internet mit der RDP-Umgebung hinter einem RD-Gateway zu verbinden. Der Vorteil: Ein VPN-Tunnel ist in diesem Szenario nicht mehr erforderlich. Und auch unter Sicherheitsgesichtspunkten weiß das Feature zu überzeugen. Die Verbindung selbst läuft über HTTPS, was Administratoren in die Lage versetzt, den Traffic über vorgelagerte Firewalls zu kontrollieren und zum jeweiligen Ziel weiter zu leiten. Für Anwender bietet sich so eine sichere und einfache Möglichkeit, um beispielsweise Mitarbeitern in Außenstellen Zugriff auf die virtuelle Infrastruktur in der Zentrale zu ermöglichen. Unabhängig davon, ob es sich dabei um Terminal Services, virtuelle Desktops (VDI) oder Workstations handelt.
Neben der Integration von RD-Gateway beinhaltet das neue IGEL Linux Release auch Updates fast aller von IGEL unterstützten Clients wie Citrix, VMware, Red Hat, Fabultech und Quest. Des Weiteren wurde die neueste Version (1.4.103) des Citrix Lync 2010 Optimization Kit integriert, das unter anderem Webcam Redirection ermöglicht. Selbstverständlich verfügen auch alle Windows Embedded Standard 7 basierten Thin Clients von IGEL über die Microsofts RD-Gateway-Funktionalität.
Verfügbarkeit
Die IGEL Linux Version 5.04.100 steht ab sofort kostenlos zum Download unter www.myigel.biz bereit.
Über IGEL Technology
IGEL Technology ist einer der weltweit führenden Hersteller von Thin Clients, Zero Clients und Thin Client-Software. Als Marktführer in Deutschland entwickelt, produziert und vertreibt IGEL sowohl Linux- als auch Microsoft Windows-basierte Desktop-Thin Clients, in LCD-Bildschirme integrierte Geräte sowie Linux-basierte Zero Clients der Reihe IGEL Zero. Die ebenfalls selbst entwickelte Thin Client-Software IGEL Universal Desktop Converter-Software 2 (UDC2) ermöglicht eine Standardisierung von PCs, Nettops, Notebooks und ausgewählter Thin Clients auf Betriebssystemebene und erlaubt deren Betrieb als fernadministrierbare Universal Desktop Thin Clients. Die zugrunde liegende Universal Desktop-Strategie (UD) gestattet IGEL-Kunden einen universellen Zugriff auf zentrale bzw. virtuelle IT-Infrastrukturen und folglich eine flexible Gestaltung ihrer serverseitigen Lösungen. Die leistungsfähige UD-Firmware beinhaltet dazu ein breites Spektrum an Softwareclients, -tools und lokalen Protokollen. Diese erlauben neben dem Zugriff auf das Server Based Computing unter Windows, Citrix und Linux auch den direkten Zugriff auf virtuelle Desktops (u.a. VMware, Citrix, Microsoft, RedHat), Legacy Host-,SAP-, Java- oder Web-Applikationen sowie VoIP. Für größtmögliche Sicherheit sorgt eine konsequente VPN- und Smartcard-Unterstützung. Die zentrale Verwaltung sämtlicher IGEL Zero- und Universal Desktop-Thin Clients erfolgt einheitlich, komfortabel und kostengünstig mittels der im Lieferumfang enthaltenen Remote- Managementsoftware IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS). Kooperationen mit kompetenten Partnern und Branchenspezialisten gewährleisten die schnelle und flexible Bereitstellung maßgeschneiderter Lösungen vor Ort. IGEL Technology ist Teil der weltweit aktiven Melchers-Gruppe und Mitglied im BITKOM. Neben dem Hauptsitz und der Entwicklungsabteilung in Deutschland ist IGEL mit Tochterunternehmen in Großbritannien, Australien und Belgien sowie mit Niederlassungen in Frankreich, Schweden, der Schweiz, Österreich und den Niederlanden und Repräsentanzen in Hongkong, Singapur, Shanghai und Peking vertreten. Darüber hinaus ist IGEL mit Distributionspartnern und Authorized Partnern in den USA und über 50 weiteren Ländern vertreten. Weitere Informationen finden Sie im Internet unter www.igel.com oder folgen Sie uns auf Twitter: twitter.com/IGEL_Tech_DACH bzw. twitter.com/IGEL_Technology. IGEL ist eine geschützte Marke der IGEL Technology GmbH. Alle Hardware- und Software-Namen sind Marken oder eingetragene Marken der jeweiligen Hersteller. Alle sonstigen genannten oder anders erkennbaren Marken, eingetragenen Waren- und/oder Dienstleistungsmarken sind das Eigentum ihrer jeweiligen Inhaber. Änderungen und Irrtümer vorbehalten.
Ansprechpartner für die Redaktion:
IGEL Technology GmbH
Dr. Frank Lampe
Hanna-Kunath-Str. 31
28199 Bremen
Tel. : 0421 / 52094 1300
E-Mail: lampe@igel.com
Süddeutscher Verlag onpact GmbH
Marian Weber
Hultschiner Straße 8
81677 München
Tel.: 089 / 2183 7281
E-Mail: marian.weber@sv-onpact.de
Web: www.sv-onpact.de
The recently published update of IGEL Linux builds Bremer Thin and Zero Client specialist functional breadth of its operating system even further. Because from the latest version 5.04.100 firmware supports theMicrosoft Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway).Thus, it is now possible to connect to Linux-based IGEL thin clients (x86) directly over the Internet using the RDP environment behind an RD Gateway. The advantage: A VPN tunnel is no longer required in this scenario.And also from a safety viewpoint, convinces the feature. The connection itself runs over HTTPS, which enables administrators to control the traffic on upstream firewalls and lead to the target further.
For users has thus a safe and easy way to enable, for example, employees in remote offices access to the virtual infrastructure at headquarters. Regardless of whether they are to Terminal Services, virtual desktops (VDI) or workstations is.
IGEL Technology today announced year-on-year growth of 78% in its sales of thin clients for the first three-quarters of the calendar year, with strong demand coming from the healthcare sector.
Reading, UK. November 3, 2014: IGEL Technology today announced year-on-year growth of 78% in its sales of thin clients for the first three-quarters of the calendar year, with strong demand coming from the healthcare sector.
“Many organisations are increasingly recognising the benefits of thin clients on the desktop, none more so than the healthcare sector,” said IGEL UK & Ireland Managing Director Simon Richards. “Our IGEL thin and zero clients work so well in a healthcare environment because they are easy to centrally manage, long-lasting, secure and incredibly cost effective.”
Cwm Taf University Health Board in Wales says it has radically cut its management time and energy costs with the deployment of 2,500 IGEL thin clients across its hospitals, clinics, GP surgeries and administration offices.
The health board has IGEL UD3 and UD5 Linux devices running a Windows 2008 desktop connected by Citrix XenApp 6 (soon to be upgraded to Citrix XenApp 6.5). There are 120 virtualised Citrix servers, using Citrix XenServer as the hypervisor.
As well as the desktops, the hospital is also using wireless connected IGEL thin clients on its medical carts on the wards. They connect to the network using a dongle via the USB port and are used by medical staff for viewing results and checking records.
“Initially there was some scepticism from staff about switching to the thin client devices but they quickly came around because of the small size, the fact that they boot very quickly and don’t need constant virus upgrades and anti-malware updates,” said John Probert, senior server manager at Cwm Taf University Health Board.
“Another benefit is that we do not suffer from thefts, as the devices are useless when taken off the network. We also do not have any patient data issues, as information cannot be stored locally on the device.”
Today, the health board has 2,500 IGEL thin clients in use out of a total of 4,500 desktops and is slowly moving across to the thin clients as old PCs are replaced.
About IGEL Technology
A world leader in thin and zero client solutions, IGEL Technology helps organizations improve the agility, efficiency, and security of their virtual desktop and application delivery systems. IGEL produces one of the industry’s widest range of hardware thin and zero clients, based on Linux and Microsoft Windows, and leads the market in software based thin clients allowing customers to access a broad spectrum of server-based infrastructures and applications. IGEL also offers powerful and intuitive management software for easy deployment and administration of thin clients throughout any size organization. Partnerships with industry leaders like Citrix, VMware, Red Hat, and Microsoft ensure that IGEL provides the most up-to-date technology and trustworthy security to clients in industries that include Healthcare, Education & Research, Public Sector, Financial, Insurance, Retail, Logistics, and Manufacturing. IGEL has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore and is represented by partners in over 50 countries worldwide. To learn more, visitwww.igel.co.uk or follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/IGEL_Technology
Battle for the Desktop revealed in latest Housing Association Research
Thin and zero client technology stronger than ever but battling to win new converts
Reading, UK. November 25th, 2014. The battle between PCs and thin clients on the desktops of UK Housing Associations is hotting up, according to the latest research published today. Thin and zero clients are becoming ever more popular in associations where they are already in use but still battling to break into new organisations, where PCs are dominant.
57% of UK Housing Associations are using thin or zero clients (Statistically the same as 2013) according to the research conducted by Market Dynamics and commissioned by IGEL Technology on a sample of 51 organisations. However, 41% of IT managers in Housing Associations currently using thin or zero clients believed that they were likely to increase their thin client usage in the next 24 months and 30% said that they were likely to be converting some PCs to thin clients.
Primary benefits reported
Strength of feeling and clarity on the benefits of a thin and zero client technology was very apparent with 86% of IT Managers believing ease of use and management was the primary benefit of a thin client infrastructure, followed by energy efficiency (82%) and flexibility (78%). Respondents also cited better cost structure (73%), longer life span (71%) and more secure company data (69%) as major benefits.
“It is clear that where thin and zero clients are in use within UK Housing Associations, the benefits are very quickly obvious to the organisation and their popularity continues to grow,” said Simon Richards, UK & Ireland Managing Director for IGEL Technology. “However, where PCs are still dominant in organisations there remains a hesitancy to adopt and some misconceptions about the technology. This research shows that there is still much to do to inform Housing Associations of the great role thin client technology can play; particularly in organisations with distributed offices and significant customer facing and administrative operations.
Housing Association desktop and infrastructure landscape
Larger Housing Associations, with more than 100 desktop users, continue to use thin and zero clients much more extensively than smaller Housing Associations. With 73% (Statistically the same as 2013) of staff at larger Housing Associations using thin clients compared to 45% at the smaller Housing Associations with less than 100 users. However, the numbers (45%, up from 25% in 2013) reveal the gap is closing as the smaller associations begin to realise the benefits of the IT infrastructure.
Citrix remains the primary server-based computing or virtual desktop software provider with its XenApp and XenDesktop solutions in use in 80% of the associations surveyed, Microsoft Terminal Services/Remote Desktop Service or VDI Suite was in 76% and VMware View in 41%
Of those that use thin or zero clients, the dominant providers are Dell Wyse with devices in 69% of associations, followed by HP in 28% and IGEL Technology in 24% of organisations with thin or zero clients. It appears that Housing Associations are settling on the top three vendors in the market, with market share increases for all three main vendors over the past year.
Multimedia on the rise
Multimedia use among desktops users is rising much faster than IT managers predicted. On average, 28% of desktop users require multimedia (up from 15% in 2013) and already higher than the 24% that IT managers last year predicted would be using the technology in 2015. And that growth looks set to continue with IT Managers now predicting 47% of users will be using multimedia technology in 24 months time.
Perceived barriers to thin
The top three concerns about thin or zero client technology perceived by respondents were a technology outage resulting in all staff being unable to work (75%), compatibility with some software and applications (49%), implementation costs (37%) and the difficulty of providing solutions for mobile workers (37%).
“These concerns are clearly very real for IT Managers that have yet to adopt the technology but I see this very much as an education requirement,” commented Simon. “Server-based computing is some of the most reliable and manageable technology available and concerns about compatibility and mobility were genuine concerns historically but no more. For example, laptops can today easily be converted to IGEL-like thin client devices for mobile workers and deliver all the reliability and management benefits of thin client devices, without restricting a user’s mobility.”
Executive Summaries of the research findings will be released at the IT in Housing Conference and Exhibition at Manchester on November 27th and 28th November. For a copy of the research Executive Summary visit: www.igel.com/ES_Housing_2014
About IGEL Technology
A world leader in thin and zero client solutions, IGEL Technology helps organizations improve the agility, efficiency, and security of their virtual desktop and application delivery systems. IGEL produces one of the industry’s widest range of hardware thin and zero clients, based on Linux and Microsoft Windows, and leads the market in software based thin clients allowing customers to access a broad spectrum of server-based infrastructures and applications. IGEL also offers powerful and intuitive management software for easy deployment and administration of thin clients throughout any size organization. Partnerships with industry leaders like Citrix, VMware, Red Hat, and Microsoft ensure that IGEL provides the most up-to-date technology and trustworthy security to clients in industries that include Healthcare, Education & Research, Public Sector, Financial, Insurance, Retail, Logistics, and Manufacturing. IGEL has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore and is represented by partners in over 50 countries worldwide. To learn more, visitwww.igel.co.uk or follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/IGEL_Technology
Systancia and IGEL Technology offer a virtualisation solution to optimise desktop Total Cost of Ownership
5th February 2015. Systancia and IGEL Technology have teamed-up to offer IT Departments a solution for managing and optimising desktops based on Systancia’s software solution AppliDis Fusion and IGEL Technology’s thin clients.
Designed to ease the management of IGEL virtualised desktops, the solution helps with:
Acceleration of session loading and application launch times;
Access to new environments on more suitable desktops, facilitating OS or applications migration
Application mobility adapted to the staff mobility;
Improvement of resources use;
Enhancement of the IT system security level;
Improvement of print processing;
Simplification and reduction of management costs;
Integration with authentication solutions of the market.
“Centralisation and virtualisation are perfect technologies to meet the IT Director’s requirements. First, they provide significant management capabilities and savings. But over all, they improve the flow of staff working processes, helping them to increase efficiency”, said Matthias Haas, Director of Product Management, at IGEL Technology.
“Our partnership with IGEL Technology provides IT Directors with an all-in-one solution, perfectly adapted to the specific expectations in terms of desktop management”, says Rémi Gamel, International Sales Manager, at Systancia. “With our innovation, our rates, and our reactivity, we are able to help businesses both to modernize their desktop environments and to meet their budgetary constraints.”
Availability
The AppliDis client is part of the latest firmware release (5.05.100) for all IGEL Linux based thin clients. The firmware can be downloaded free of charge at www.myigel.biz. Users of IGEL Thin Clients based on Windows Embedded Standard 7 can integrate the AppliDis client manually.
About Systancia
Systancia is a software publisher specialising in desktop and application virtualisation and secured access to IT system. Systancia has gradually become a leader on the European market for virtualisation solutions and Cloud Computing with a capacity for innovation that has placed it among the global leaders in this field. With the acquisition of IPdiva, at the end of 2013, Systancia positions itself on the market with the first French solution that offers a highly secured access to any application, any job and any data from any place on any device. In addition, this security shall be in accordance with the control and traceability requirements for even the most sensitive of contexts.
Systancia always strives to best meet the needs of their users, focusing on the technological value of its products and the proximity between its teams and client. Recently, the French Deposits and Consignments Fund (now known as BPI) added finance into Systancia’s capital with the already present A Plus, enabling accelerated conditions for its international development. www.systancia.com
About IGEL Technology
A world leader in thin and zero client solutions, IGEL Technology helps organizations improve the agility, efficiency, and security of their virtual desktop and application delivery systems. IGEL produces one of the industry’s widest range of hardware thin and zero clients, based on Linux and Microsoft Windows, and leads the market in software based thin clients allowing customers to access a broad spectrum of server-based infrastructures and applications. IGEL also offers powerful and intuitive management software for easy deployment and administration of thin clients throughout any size organization. Partnerships with industry leaders like Citrix, VMware, Red Hat, and Microsoft ensure that IGEL provides the most up-to-date technology and trustworthy security to clients in industries that include Healthcare, Education & Research, Public Sector, Financial, Insurance, Retail, Logistics, and Manufacturing. IGEL has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore and is represented by partners in over 50 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.igel.co.uk or follow us on Twitter:twitter.com/IGEL_Technology
Systancia und IGEL stellen erste Lösung eines europäischen Konsortiums für die Zentralisierung von Anwendungen und zur Virtualisierung von Desktops vor.
Bremen, 05. Februar 2015: Systancia, Anbieter von Softwarelösungen zur Virtualisierung von Desktops und Anwendungen, und der deutsche Thin Client-Marktführer IGEL bieten IT-Entscheidern eine leistungsstarke Lösung zur Optimierung des Desktop-Managements an. Sie verbindet die Vorteile der Systancia-Lösung AppliDis Fusion mit den Vorzügen von IGEL Thin Clients.
Einen ersten, exklusiven Blick auf das Ergebnis der Partnerschaft zwischen IGEL und Systancia konnten die Besucher der conhIT im letzten Jahr in Berlin werfen. Die vorgestellte Lösung erfüllt alle gegenwärtigen Anforderungen an Mobilität und Zugangssicherheit und vereint zahlreiche Vorteile in sich:
Schnelle Ladezeiten von Sitzungen und Anwendungsstarts
Zugang zu neuen Umgebungen auf angepassten Desktops, erleichterte Betriebssystem- oder Anwendungsmigrationen
Anwendungen, die auf mobile Anwender zugeschnitten sind
Verbesserte Ressourcenausschöpfung
Höheres Sicherheitsniveau für IT-Systeme
Verbesserte Druckverarbeitung
Vereinfachung und Reduzierung der Managementkosten
Integration mit marktüblichen Authentifizierungslösungen
„Zentralisierung und Virtualisierung sind prädestiniert dafür, die heuten Anforderungen von IT-Managern im vollen Umfang zu erfüllen. Zum einen erweitern sie die Managementmöglichkeiten und sorgen für Einsparungen, daneben verbessern sie aber auch die Arbeitsabläufe und helfen, die Produktivität der Mitarbeiter weiter zu steigern“, so Matthias Hass, Director Product Management bei IGEL Technology.
„Durch unsere Partnerschaft mit IGEL Technology können wir IT-Abteilungen eine Komplettlösung bieten, welche die konkreten Anforderungen im Desktop-Management präzise abbildet“, erklärt Rémi Gamel, International Sales Manager von Systancia. „Mit unseren Innovationen, unserer kurzen Reaktionszeit und unseren günstigen Angeboten können wir Kunden helfen, ihre Desktop-Umgebungen zu modernisieren, ohne ihr Budget zu sprengen.“
Verfügbarkeit
Der AppliDis-Client ist ab der neuesten Firmware-Version (5.05.100) für alle Linux-basierten Thin Clients von IGEL verfügbar. Die Firmware steht unter www.myigel.bizkostenlos zum Download zur Verfügung. Nutzer von IGEL Thin Clients mit Windows Embedded Standard 7 können den AppliDis-Client manuell integrieren.
Known for their speed to market and unparalleled customer and technical service, 10ZiG Technology is making a splash at this year’s VMworld with the introduction of new thin client products and a more user friendly management utility software.
10ZiG Technology’s New Centralized Management Utility Now Web-Based; Powerful Features
10ZiG Technology to introduce a new, powerful web-based centralized management utility at VMworld 2015, booth #2609, in San Francisco, California, August 30, – September 3.
Leicester, UK – Known for their speed to market and unparalleled customer and technical service, 10ZiG Technology is making a splash at this year’s VMworld with the introduction of new thin client products and a more user friendly management utility software.
The new ‘10ZiG Manager Web Console’ software comes stacked with dozens of new features. 10ZiG’s new software utility empowers Administrators to manage their Thin Client environments using devices with a supported Web Browser (Google Chrome/Mozilla Firefox/Internet Explorer) and free them from the inconvenience of having to rely on connecting via traditional PC-based Consoles.
New and existing administrators will immediately feel at ease with the familiar user interface and responsive design that their existing 10ZiG Manager PC-based console is well known for. The 10ZiG Manager Web Console enables administrators to organize and manage multiple Thin Client Groups, for executing tasks such as Auto Configuration, Power On, Shut Down, Reboot, in addition to shadowing Thin Clients all from within an existing browser session.
Performance and security are a top priority in every 10ZiG product. The new 10ZiG Manager Web Console features a completely secure HTTPS login system which verifies user name and passwords against local active directory as well as a smart logout system which warns users and asks to continue their session. A few of the new security enhancements are a lockout timer for failed login attempts, IP address lockout, and bot and brute force attack protections.
Those seeking a comprehensive solution which offers complete remote control over multiple thin clients will appreciate 10ZiG’s new admin features. The new software allows for minimal touch device deployment using automatic configuration groups to remotely connect to any thin client on the network. Top level users will have the ability to edit individual configurations and generate comprehensive reports for each thin client.
“10ZiG analyzed the pain points of Administrators, who we see are becoming increasingly mobile and remote from their traditional workstations. We believe the inclusion of web-based access into our 10ZiG Manager Enterprise FREE software is another milestone in simplifying an Administrator’s role in centrally managing their Thin Client environment. This affords even greater versatility when managing 10ZiG devices from remote and mobile locations, in addition to traditional workstations,” stated 10ZiG’s Head of Research & Development, Robert Fitzer.
About 10ZiG Technology 10ZiG Thin Clients and Zero Clients are optimized for desktop virtualization and offer the latest VDI brokers preinstalled, with support for PCoIP, HDX, and RDP protocols to name a few. Combining the best available security, high performance and flexibility, 10ZiG devices offer the complete desktop experience. 10ZiG’s goal is to take the complexity out of Desktop Virtualization by providing Thin Clients and Zero Clients with components that simplify implementation, improve management and enhance the user experience. 10ZiG Thin Clients and Zero Clients are available in a wide-range of hardware options including wireless devices, All-In-Ones and small form factor logic units. OS options include PEAKos (Linux), Windows Embedded 7 or Windows Embedded 8. The 10ZiG product range is underpinned by the most personal Sales and Support service on the market, and 10ZiG are willing to put it to the test through their no-obligation, no-hassle, flexible 30 day evaluation offer.
To learn more about the 10ZiG Manager Web Console, or any of 10ZiG’s Thin or Zero Client solutions, please contact the relevant office below:
IGEL UDC2 simplifies remote management of business desktops and assists migration to VDI environment
Reading, UK. December 1, 2015 – The latest updates to IGEL’s Universal Desktop Converter 2 solution now allows businesses to convert Dell Wyse thin clients from the 5000 and 7000 series into standardized IGEL desktops, with all the remote management benefits of a unified workspace. IGEL’s UDC2 standardizes the operating systems used by thin clients, PCs, and notebooks, turning them into IGEL-like devices that can then be more effectively remote managed using IGEL’s sector-leading Universal Management Suite (UMS) software, which comes as standard with the UDC2 license.
The latest version of the UDC2 with IGEL Linux 5.08.100 now runs on all desktop thin clients from the Dell Wyse 5000 and 7000 series, including their predecessor models from the D and Z class. Even the top of the range Dell Wyse 7020 with Windows Embedded Standard 7 (formerly Z90Q7), is supported with full functionality – including sound, dual view, network drivers and WiFi – alongside updates to the devices for the latest tools and drivers for peripheral support.
“The UDC2 is the tool for smart businesses looking for simplified, remote management of their desktop estate or a smooth transition to a VDI environment,” said Simon Richards, IGEL MD for UK & Ireland. “The addition of Dell Wyse thin clients to the UDC2’s conversion capabilities makes it even easier for businesses to convert their existing desktops to IGEL-like devices and gain all the benefits of simplified, central remote management. In addition, businesses looking to move to a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure can use UDC2 to migrate their existing desktops to IGEL-like devices that are designed for use in virtual and cloud environments from all the leading suppliers. This approach means businesses do not have to immediately spend additional money buying new desktops when they move to a VDI environment.”
As well as Dell Wyse, the UDC2 standardizes thin clients from various vendors, such as Acer, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo or Samsung, as well as x86-based PCs and notebooks.
The conversion process can be carried out locally on the device using a UDC token, USB stick or DVD, as well as over the network by means of the IGEL UDC Deployment Appliance, a combination of PXE Server and web GUI. The guest thin client’s original operating system – in this case Linux, ThinOS or Windows Embedded – is irrelevant for conversion with the UDC2. However, the notebook and all-in-one models from Dell Wyse series are not supported or not fully supported.
Price and availability
An unlicensed evaluation version of the IGEL Universal Desktop Converter 2 (UDC2) can be downloaded free of charge from www.myigel.biz. Full conversion of the Dell Wyse client series is possible with IGEL Linux firmware release 5.08.100, available mid-December. Use of the software requires a UDC license, which costs around £49.00 plus vat.
An overview of all thin client devices from other manufacturers that can be converted with the IGEL UDC2 is available at: www.igel.com/udc2-specs. IGEL publishes a complete list of the individual hardware components supported by the IGEL Linux firmware in the “Linux 3rd Party Hardware Database” at: www.igel.com/hwdb
About IGEL Technology
A world leader in thin and zero client solutions, IGEL Technology helps organizations improve the agility, efficiency, and security of their virtual desktop and application delivery systems. IGEL produces one of the industry’s widest range of hardware thin and zero clients, based on Linux and Microsoft Windows, and leads the market in software based thin clients allowing customers to access a broad spectrum of server-based infrastructures and applications. IGEL also offers powerful and intuitive management software for easy deployment and administration of thin clients throughout any size organization. Partnerships with industry leaders like Citrix, VMware, Red Hat, and Microsoft ensure that IGEL provides the most up-to-date technology and trustworthy security to clients in industries that include Healthcare, Education & Research, Public Sector, Financial, Insurance, Retail, Logistics, and Manufacturing. IGEL has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore and is represented by partners in over 50 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.igel.co.uk or follow us on Twitter:twitter.com/IGEL_Technology
Delivering New Performance, Security and Device Compatibility, IGEL Linux 10 is Available as a “Sneak Preview” through Nov. 30, 2016
Reading UK. Nov. 2, 2016 – IGEL, a world leader in the delivery of powerful workspace management software, IGEL™ Linux-powered thin clients, zero clients and all-in-one thin client solutions, today announced availability of a preview release of the IGEL Linux 10 operating system (OS). The preview release, offered as a free trial until Nov. 30, 2016, is available for download with a test version of the next-generation IGEL Universal Desktop Converter 3 (UDC3).
“IGEL Linux 10 is changing the game for thin client technology,” said Simon Richards, Managing Director for IGEL South & Western Europe. “It enables customers to access today’s most modern devices and endpoint computing capabilities, with the performance and power they demand for accelerated workforce productivity and the security and control IT needs for simplified management.”
The new IGEL Linux 10 now features a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) that significantly reduces boot time and extends support to the latest end-user devices including many laptop computers and desktop PCs, thin clients and compute sticks. With its enhanced 64-bit OS compatibility, the new version delivers more access to RAM in next-generation devices.
With a new user interface (UI), IGEL Linux 10 enables hardware-accelerated decoding of multimedia content and protocols with supported chipsets increasing overall performance. It also supports popular communications protocols including Citrix HDX, VMware Blast and Microsoft RDP. Users of IGEL Linux 10 also benefit from reliable managed security and maintenance support through IGEL’s commitment to regular and frequent firmware updates.
Availability and Sneak Preview
The IGEL Linux 10 preview release is available with a test version of IGEL UDC3 enabling IGEL Linux 10 to be installed on thin clients, desktop and laptop computers from other manufacturers that meet minimum requirements of having an x86-based 64-bit processor, 2GB of RAM and 2GB storage. The IGEL UDC3 converts these end-user computing devices into an IGEL thin client running the IGEL Linux 10 OS.
A licensed test version of IGEL Linux 10 and UDC3 is available to registered users free of charge through Nov. 30, 2016. Visitwww.igel.com/testlinux10 to register for the test download.
IGEL delivers powerful endpoint management software that is revolutionary in its simplicity and purpose-built for the enterprise. The company’s world-leading products, including the IGEL Universal Management Suite, IGEL™ Linux-powered thin and zero clients, and all-in-one thin client solutions, deliver a smart and secure endpoint management experience that shifts granular control of thin and zero client devices from the end user to IT. This enables enterprises to remotely control all thin client devices from a single dashboard interface. With IGEL, IT teams can do more with less, lower their total cost of ownership and operation, and future-proof their organization. IGEL has 10 offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visitwww.igel.com/us.
Ideal for VDI environments, the IGEL UD Pocket features a dual-boot system that turns compatible USB-bootable form factors into an IGEL Linux 10-powered endpoint, without overwriting the local OS
Reading, Dec. 6, 2016 – IGEL Technology, a world leader in the delivery of powerful endpoint management software, IGEL™ Linux-powered thin clients, zero clients and all-in-one thin client solutions, today announced the introduction of the IGEL UD Pocket, a flexible and cost-effective out-of-the-box micro thin client solution that is designed to improve the security of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) initiatives in organizations with remote or mobile workforces.
Built to provide on-demand access to virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments, the IGEL UD Pocket offers simple and secure access to the user’s IGEL Linux 10-powered desktop, via a USB-bootable device, without overwriting the local operating system (OS).
“As the industry’s first Linux-based micro thin client, the IGEL UD Pocket is ideal for organisations that want to provide remote and mobile workers with simple, secure and fully-functional anytime, anywhere access to their VDI environments,” said Simon Richards, Managing Director for IGEL South & Western Europe. “And, because the IGEL UD Pocket leverages existing hardware, organisations of all sizes can quickly scale their IGEL desktop deployments, while dramatically reducing desktop replacement costs.”
Protecting Networks and Data While Giving Workers the Freedom to Roam
The IGEL UD Pocket supports enterprise-level security standards and protocols. Additionally, IGEL’s entire family of thin and zero client solutions, including the UD Pocket, support two-factor authentication through integrated or external smart card readers or USB tokens, which prevents passwords from being lost, forgotten or intercepted by cybercriminals.
With the IGEL UD Pocket, the IGEL Linux 10 desktop can be accessed from any USB-bootable PC, laptop, tablet or thin client that meets the minimum requirements of an x86, 64-bit processor and 2 GB RAM. Available in a USB 3.0 form factor with backward compatibility to USB 2.0, the IGEL UD Pocket measures 22.4mm x 12.2mm x 6mm and weighs 3 grams. The IGEL UD Pocket also features an industry-grade 8GB memory module, and a high-quality metal chassis is resistant to dust, shock and water.
“We are finding that there is a significant market opportunity for our Linux-based micro thin client in vertical markets such as financial services and insurance, education, logistics and warehousing, and call centers where workers roam between desks, offices or locations,” continued Richards.
Availability and Licensing
Designed to provide IT organisations with greater autonomy, and the agility and flexibility they need to quickly scale their IGEL deployments, the IGEL UD Pocket can be purchased through IGEL channel partners in Europe. Additionally, licensing for the IGEL UD Pocket is assigned to the USB stick, independent of the MAC address of the target endpoint. This flexibility to roam from one device to another, along with regular IGEL firmware updates, offers IT organizations a revolutionary, yet simple solution to their diverse endpoint management challenges.
The IGEL UD Pocket can also be integrated, like all the other IGEL OS-powered products, into the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS), a centralized and secure remote management console that provides organizations with complete control over their IGEL endpoints, saving time and resources, and reducing operating expenses. The IGEL UMS can be downloaded free of charge at www.myigel.com.
IGEL delivers powerful endpoint management software that is revolutionary in its simplicity and purpose-built for the enterprise. The company’s world-leading products, including the IGEL Universal Management Suite, IGEL™ Linux-powered thin and zero clients, and all-in-one thin client solutions, deliver a smart and secure endpoint management experience that shifts granular control of thin and zero client devices from the end user to IT. IGEL has 10 offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com/uk
IGEL wins Digitalisation Innovation of the Year for UD Pocket at SVC Awards
UD Pocket provides mobile workers with access to their desktop from any device.
Click for full size
Reading, UK. November 30th, 2017 – IGEL, a world leader in endpoint management software for the secure enterprise, has won the Digitalisation Innovation of the Year award for its UD Pocket micro thin client solution at the SVC Awards in London, UK.
The award was voted for by readers of publications such as Digitalisation World, Datacenter Solutions, Storage Virtualisation and Cloud. The SVC Awards reward the products, projects and services, as well as the companies and teams, operating in the cloud, storage and digitalisation sectors. Other winners at this year’s event included NetApp, Veeam and Barracuda.
UD Pocket transforming mobile working
The industry’s first Linux-based micro thin client, UD Pocket has been designed to allow mobile workers access to their desktop from any device. No larger than a paper clip, users simply plug the device into the USB port of any PC, laptop or thin client and it temporarily makes any Intel x86 64-bit desktop an IGEL thin client without over writing the local OS. It gives mobile workers instant access to their cloud services, server-based computing applications or virtual desktop and is automatically integrated into the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS) for remote support, deployment and management.
“This award is further proof that our mission to bring the revolutionary micro thin client to businesses is working,” said Ainsley Brook, UK & Ireland Country Manager for IGEL Technology. “IT managers searching for a simple, secure and mobile workspace solution should look no further than UD Pocket. The size of a small USB, the device can be plugged into almost any device and because the UD Pocket uses existing hardware it can give ageing devices an extended life, dramatically reducing desktop replacement costs.”
IGEL delivers powerful unified endpoint management software that is revolutionary in its simplicity and purpose-built for the enterprise. The company’s world-leading software products include the IGEL OS™, Universal Desktop Converter™ (UDC), IGEL Cloud Gateway™ (ICG), IGEL UD Pocket™ (UDP) and Universal Management Suite™ (UMS). These solutions enable a more secure, manageable and cost-effective endpoint management platform across nearly any x86 device. Additionally, IGEL’s German engineered and manufactured thin, zero and all-in-one client solutions deliver the industry’s best warranty (5 years), support (3 years after end of life) and management functionality. IGEL enables enterprises to precisely control all devices running IGEL OS as well as Windows OS from a single dashboard interface. IGEL has offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visitwww.igel.com.
IGEL recognised as fastest growing thin client provider in U.S.
Leading Analyst Firm Reports on IGEL’s Rising Thin Client Hardware Market Position and Innovative Software Differentiation
Reading, UK, May 8, 2018 –IGEL, a world leader in endpoint management software for the secure enterprise, today announced that it has risen, in terms of market share, to the third-largest thin client provider in the U.S., according to the IDC Quarterly Enterprise Client Device Tracker 2017Q4[1].
Data from the IDC Quarterly Enterprise Client Device Tracker 2017Q4 was included in the recent IDC Topline report, “Thin Clients as Attractive Solutions for Cost-Effective, Secure Endpoint Management,” which was sponsored by IGEL[2]. The report, authored by IDC Research Analyst Michael Ceroici and released this week, outlines the opportunities and challenges for players in the thin client industry, pointing to the continued opportunity for “IGEL to grab market share through new service releases.”
“At a worldwide level, IGEL is the fourth-largest thin client vendor in terms of revenues, with $128 million in 2017. At a regional level, the company has made noticeable gains in both the U.S. and Europe, including its home region of Germany. With the introduction of new U.S. management in 2016 and a push toward establishing five customer support hubs across the U.S., IGEL has seen its market position rise from seventh in 2015 to third in 2017. This is solely in terms of hardware sales and does not account for over 55,000 software licenses also sold in the U.S. over the same period,” said Ceroici in the IDC Topline report.
“At IGEL we have doubled down on our innovative software; first to repurpose x86 devices, saving our customers millions, and second to offer a simple, smart and secure management platform for end user computing that today’s organisations require,” said Jed Ayres, President and CEO, IGEL North America. “This emphasis has driven remarkable growth for IGEL worldwide, with especially significant momentum in the U.S. The new IDC report shows that our focus has delivered extraordinary success and that the opportunities ahead for IGEL are exceptional.”
The IDC Topline report provides a comprehensive overview of the thin client market, including how security and regulatory requirements are driving growth for the industry in healthcare, retail, education and financial services sectors. IDC also identifies a number of reasons for stronger thin client market performance in 2017, including increasing security concerns, the impact of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and growing mobile workforces. To support customers facing these challenges, the IDC Topline report also provides essential guidance including the key factors organisations looking to adopt thin client solutions should consider.
IGEL will be showcasing its thin client and endpoint management software solutions during Citrix Synergy 2018 this week. Attendees of the event qualify for IGEL’s 2018 “IT Baller” giveaway of $120,000 as the company helps IT pros become IT Ballers by demonstrating how they can improve operations, save money and increase security when they leverage IGEL’s innovative, software-defined endpoint computing solutions. Up to December 19, there will be six opportunities to win $20,000. The first IT Baller giveaway winner will be selected on Thursday, May 10at Citrix Synergy 2018. To enter the IT Baller sweepstakes, participants must complete a short survey at www.igel.com/itballer-contest/
IGEL delivers powerful unified endpoint management software that is revolutionary in its simplicity and purpose-built for the enterprise. The company’s world-leading software products include the IGEL OS™, Universal Desktop Converter™ (UDC), IGEL Cloud Gateway™ (ICG), IGEL UD Pocket™ (UDP) and Universal Management Suite™ (UMS). These solutions enable a more secure, manageable and cost-effective endpoint management platform across nearly any x86 device. Additionally, IGEL’s German engineered and manufactured thin, zero and all-in-one client solutions deliver the industry’s best warranty (5 years), support (3 years after end of life) and management functionality. IGEL enables enterprises to precisely control all devices running IGEL OS as well as Windows OS from a single dashboard interface. IGEL has offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com.
HP has announced the next generation of their affordable HP EliteBook 700 G6 series business laptops, the new HP EliteBook 735 G6 (13-inch) and HP EliteBook 745 G6 (14-inch). HP has added premium features to the mainstream line including 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen PRO processors with Radeon Vega graphics. Both new EliteBooks focus on power, security, and an ultra-slim design and feature a narrow border and ultra-bright display.
HP’s new line-up is also highlighted by its protection against evolving malware threats with self-healing, hardware-enforced, and manageable security solutions including HP Sure Sense, HP Sure View Gen3, HP Privacy Camera, HP Sure Start for AMD, and HP Sure Click. Moreover, the HP EliteBook 735 G6 and HP EliteBook 745 G6 offer collaboration functionality, featuring HP Noise Cancellation, an integrated world-facing microphone with top-firing speakers, and collaboration keyboard keys.
HP also announced a new mt45 Mobile Thin Client, which is designed for performance, reliability, and security for the most mobile professionals. HP indicates the following highlights of the new mt45 Mobile Thin Client:
Offers built-in collaboration features such as world-facing third mic, collaboration keys, and amazing audio.
Provides a stylish design with a precision-crafted, all-aluminum body.
Offers a 14-inch diagonal Full HD narrow bezel and optional anti-glare touch display.
Features the HP Privacy Camera, multi-factor finger authentication, HP Sure Start Gen5 BIOS protection, and the secure, virus resistant HP ThinPro OS.
Supports Linux based HP ThinPro or Windows 10 IoT option to give users an intuitive, natural interface and familiar navigation.
Boosts performance with the next generation AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3300U mobile processor with Radeon Vega 6 graphics, ideal for multi-tasking, streaming content and more.
Optimized for cloud and VDI environments.
Pricing and availability
Slated for a release in June, the HP EliteBook 735 G6 will have a starting price of $1,199 while the HP EliteBook 745 G6 will have a starting price of $929.
The new HP mt45 mobile thin clients are expected to be available on July 1 with a starting price is $799.
New Dell Wyse 5470 enables optimized mobility and productivity to collaborate and work confidently from the cloud
New Dell Wyse 5470 All-in-One delivers optimized performance and trusted security on a 23.8-inch display
New mobile and All-in-One thin clients are designed to enhance virtual workspaces with ultimate security and intelligent unified management
At Dell Technologies, we are dedicated to providing our customers with technology that helps them become more productive, no matter when, where or how they work. Whether an accountant handling sensitive tax data or an administrator coordinating schedules and timelines, we understand that keeping data secure as you work is vital.
Dell is extending its thin client portfolio with the addition of two new form factors – the Wyse 5470 All-In-One and the Wyse 5470 mobile thin client. Both provide users with the flexibility of work while maintaining security of data with zero attack vulnerabilities, an unpublished API with files exclusively packaged by Dell with the Wyse ThinOS1 operating system.
Designed to easily integrate into any technology environment, Wyse thin clients deliver an enterprise experience and address multiple use cases in regulated industries, from healthcare, financial services, retail or government services; from task workers to users who require extreme computing power.
Dell Wyse 5470 Mobile delivers optimized mobility and productivity
Dell’s new mobile thin client meets the needs of an evolving, growing and increasingly mobile workforce. From the desk to the meeting to remote work, today’s workers need to connect quickly, easily and securely to all their applications and devices.
Users have the freedom to choose between secure access to cloud applications and virtual workspaces from the hardened Wyse ThinLinux with a commercial proven design or select Windows 10 IoT Enterprise with Dell added security features.
The Wyse 5470 Mobile is available with:
HD or full HD 14-inch display with touch screen options, and supports up to two external 4K displays for even more productivity when at the desk
Built-in support for unified communications with the Intel Wireless-AC 9650 card with integrated Bluetooth capability and optional front-facing HD camera for collaboration
Optional USB-C Dell Dock enablement with data transfer speeds up to 10Gps and seamless firmware updates for easy transitions from the desk to meetings to remote work
Dell Wyse 5470 All-in-One enables a more productive experience for cloud users
The new Wyse 5470 All-in-One thin client is the perfect fit for any customer-facing or business space, and its small footprint meets the needs of remote employees to connect, collaborate and work confidently from the cloud. The new design, with a larger 23.8-inch display, allows for immersive productivity while maintaining an elegant, clutter-free design and support for an external 4K display. It comes equipped with the Dell-exclusive Wyse ThinOS, the most secure thin client operating system1 or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise with Dell added security features. Both Wyse ThinOS and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise OS options are ready to connect right out of the box to traditional VDI, cloud-hosted virtual desktops, or apps and cloud services.
Support for a broad range of peripherals to empower a faster, smarter workflow and seamless collaboration with built-in support for unified communications, including DisplayPort, six USB ports, RJ-45 and optional wireless with Bluetooth 5.0
Choice of multiple stand options for various work styles. The fixed stand is great for traditional desks and formal workspaces, while the articulating stand adjusts to different angles, be it on a kiosk or standing work environment.
Configure and manage from cloud with a single tap
With simplified setup, configuration and management, Wyse 5470 and Wyse 5470 All-in-One thin clients can be deployed right out-of-the box and benefit from high manageability with cloud-based management through Wyse Management Suite – the only thin client management solution with a mobile app, allowing IT users to view critical alerts and send real time commands instantly and be more responsive to business requirements.
Dell is revolutionizing the future of work and it all starts here with the new Wyse 5470 Thin Clients. Get yours starting on Aug. 20, 2019 at www.dellemc.com/wyse.
Based on Dell internal analysis of competitive products, March 2019.
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Organizations are enhancing safety and security, reducing costs and increasing operational flexibility by using cloud computing platforms.
After two decades of advances, cloud computing has now established itself as a core business tool for many of the world’s largest companies and organizations. A variety of platforms for remote processing, data storage and encryption offer any sized entity the ability to use simple, affordable Wi-Fi-enabled laptops and desktop workstations for their computing needs. In fact, leading research firm Gartner predicted in 2019 that global cloud computing revenue would rise 17 percent this year, and it’s possible the real figure will be even higher with the events of 2020 causing many more organizations to shift to remote and home-based operations.
Healthcare providers, government agencies, schools and businesses of all kinds are benefitting from the enhanced security, reduced maintenance costs and added operational flexibility cloud computing provides. By moving the actual data processing and storage to a professionally encrypted central location, access can be more tightly controlled and data can be better protected against many types of digital attacks, including phishing and ransomware.
At the same time, thin clients and zero clients like those from LG can reduce both initial layout costs and maintenance costs, simplify company-wide software updates and enhance worker flexibility.
For those of you who’ve been around for more than a year, you likely remember us making the same sort of grandiose statements last year around this time, excited by the proposition of new 10th-gen Intel-based Chromebooks and the slew of MediaTek MT8183-touting Chrome OS devices we were expecting. While some of those devices showed up and showed out (I’m looking at you Acer Chromebook Spin 713 and HP Chromebook x360 14c), lots of devices were delayed and we’re still here waiting for their eventual arrival a full year later.
Much of this is obviously due to the pandemic and the shock it put on manufacturers and supply chains in the spring, but no excuses change the fact that we didn’t quite see the massive tidal wave of Chromebooks we were hoping for in 2020. It doesn’t matter why they didn’t all make it to market, it only matters that they never materialized, and this leaves us with a backlog of devices that likely won’t make it to store shelves in 2020.
Mix these lingering 2020-bound Chromebooks with a massive uptick in Chromebook adoption, far more manufacturer interest, and a huge increase in chipset options moving into 2021, however, and you have what feels very much like the calm before the storm here in the latter parts of 2020. While we thought there was a lot of Chromebook hardware on the way in 2020, there’s almost no real comparison as we move into 2021. There are now a total of 9 different families of devices we’re tracking as we move into the new year as compared to the couple big groups we were expecting in 2020, so let’s quickly recap them.
Since 1999, Thinclient.org has been reporting the thin client computing market as well as the ChromeBook, Zero Client, Android clients, Pi Raspberry Clients and Thick Client market. Generally the cloud computing market since it started with companies such as Citrix back in the late 80s.
A thin client is a lightweight[vague]computer that has been optimized for establishing a remote connection with a server-based computing environment. The server does most of the work, which can include launching software programs, performing calculations, and storing data. This contrasts with a fat client or a conventional personal computer; the former is also intended for working in a client–server model but has significant local processing power, while the latter aims to perform its function mostly locally.
Thin client hardware generally supports a keyboard, mouse, monitor, jacks for sound peripherals, and open ports for USB devices (e.g., printer, flash drive, webcam). Some thin clients include legacy serial or parallel ports to support older devices such as receipt printers, scales or time clocks. Thin client software typically consists of a graphical user interface (GUI), cloud access agents (e.g., RDP, ICA, PCoIP), a local web browser, terminal emulators (in some cases), and a basic set of local utilities.
New hardware interfaces includes socket-based enabled devices eliminating the need for a physical USB connection. Bluetooth wireless connectivity is also a big factor for devices.
Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust invests £5m to upgrade IT infrastructure, refreshing its EUC estate using IGEL
…The use of IGEL OS results in the Trust saving £500k not buying new desktops…
UK, Reading. July 20, 2021 – IGEL, provider of the next gen edge OS for cloud workspaces, announces today that Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has updated its end-user computing (EUC) environment, implementing IGEL OS and UD3 endpoints throughout the organization.
This is part of a £5 million investment the Trust is making to replace and refresh its entire IT infrastructure including compute, storage, WAN/LAN network and thin client platforms. This significant upgrade project is putting in place modern, class-leading technology to support the Trust, provide high quality clinical care and services for around 820,000 local residents.
Located in the Northeast of Manchester, Pennine Acute Hospitals serves the communities of Bury, Rochdale and Oldham along with surrounding towns and villages. Employing 10,000 staff, it operates four hospitals: Fairfield General Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary.
As part of the overall project, the necessity to change the EUC platform was pressing. Pennine Acute Hospital’s existing thin client solution was already a decade old, over 2,000 hardware devices were end-of-life and no longer supported; and it had a requirement to expand the use of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and thin clients across the organisation. To complicate matters, the devices couldn’t be centrally or easily controlled because the server-based management software was not up-to-date.
Jav Yaqub, the Trust’s head of infrastructure, explains, “The upshot was we were consuming a huge amount of time trying to maintain and run our thin client desktops, with major platform mismatches hindering our ability to roll out new operating systems like Windows 10 or deploy Office 365, which was crucial as NHS Digital has mandated that Windows 7 be removed from all desktops.”
After a successful trial, the decision was made to select IGEL for the new EUC solution. In tandem, the Trust updated its entire compute systems in its datacentre installing a Dell EMC VxRail hyperconverged infrastructure platform as well as Dell EMC network attached Isilon, Data Domain and ECS storage.
The new VxRail compute platform is also used to host VMware Horizon – the Trust’s VDI solution – with 3,000 IGEL OS licenses and 500 new IGEL UD3 endpoints purchased, along with IGEL’s management software, the Universal Management Suite (UMS). IGEL Cloud Gateway was acquired to centrally manage endpoints not on the corporate network. Furthermore, NVIDIA virtual GPU technology is being trailed within the VxRail environment to share graphics power and capability across the VDI estate.
IGEL OS deliver significant operational and financial advantages
The move to IGEL OS and UD3 thin client endpoints is already delivering substantial benefits:
Budget saved. £500,000 has been saved as the Trust has avoided buying 2,000 new thin client devices for the organisation. Despite being told they were end-of-life, many of the old endpoints from the previous incumbent supplier have been recycled – converted using the IGEL OS into centrally controlled devices. Yaqub says, “For the flexibility and portability the IGEL OS offers which is a key reason for our purchase, the costs are reasonable and IGEL are competitive with their pricing.”
Reliability improved. Most thin client devices at the Trust are used at workstations in hospital wards and on 100 laptop trollies which nurses and other health professionals use in various clinical settings. IGEL OS has vastly improved the reliability and performance of these trolly machines given that IGEL OS is much ‘lighter’ – at 1GB – rather than the Windows OS which is typically 16 GB in size.
Implementation simple. Roll out was easy and fast with the Trust supported by third party consultants who helped install IGEL OS and convert devices – a re-flashing process which took just minutes. Yaqub says, “It was very much a non-event. It was easy, with no significant problems, as IGEL support has been excellent.”
Management straightforward. Using IGEL’s Universal Management Suite (UMS) makes the day-to-day management of the whole estate of 2,000 thin clients located across four geographically dispersed hospital sites really straightforward. Just one person now handles this for the whole organisation as part of their overall job role. IGEL specific training was provided allowing policies and security settings to be created and pushed out automatically to all devices.
The local care ecosystem joined up. The Trust has also connected five local community care providers to its VDI environment. They use an IGEL-OS powered endpoint to view its electronic patient records (EPR) system. Partners access the EPR via VMware Horizon – with IGEL Cloud Gateway used to manage remote devices – so that patient care is available anywhere across the local community.
Remote work capability delivered quickly in light of Covid. The Trust has been able to easily ramp up remote access capability to empower staff to work from home during the Coronavirus pandemic. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, 600-700 staff did so but this was increased to 3,000 in just three weeks. Staff login to their VDI session via a standard browser which takes them to their Trust branded Windows 10 desktop. Imprivata is used to enabled single sign-on to specific applications.
Yaqub says, “The infrastructure update project has been hard work. We’ve done about four years work in just two with staff now commenting that they’ve seen big improvements in system performance, speed, flexibility and the IT teams’ ability to deliver. This makes all the graft worthwhile and rewarding, and IGEL has played an important part in enabling this.”
Moving forward, Pennine Acute Trust is reviewing how it can increase the scope of VDI and thin client usage within the organisation. Using the IGEL OS, the goal is to convert more desktop devices in other departments like estates and finance into locked down, centrally controlled and secure endpoints.
The IT team is also working on a proof of concept within the radiology specialty to capitalise on the graphics capability of the new backend infrastructure. This could allow radiologists working internationally to access its systems using VDI and powerful multimedia IGEL endpoints – rather than expensive laptops being provided – to review and study MRI and X-ray scans to aid with patient illness diagnosis and treatment.
Simon Townsend, IGEL’s chief marketing officer says, “Ultimately technology in the health service is all about delivering better patient care. As an IT provider, we have our part to play in this so that clinicians and other health professionals have high performance, reliable desktop solutions offering them the very best user experience. That’s what the IGEL OS running on any endpoint hardware is designed to do.”
IGEL provides the next-gen edge OS for cloud workspaces. The company’s world-leading software products include IGEL OS™, IGEL UD Pocket™ (UDP) and IGEL Universal Management Suite™ (UMS). These solutions comprise a more secure, manageable and cost-effective endpoint management and control platform across nearly any x86-64 device. Easily acquired via just two feature-rich software offerings, — Workspace Edition and Enterprise Management Pack — IGEL software presents outstanding value per investment. Additionally, IGEL’s German engineered endpoint solutions deliver the industry’s best hardware warranty (5 years), software maintenance (3 years after end of life) and management functionality. IGEL enables enterprises to save vast amounts of money by extending the useful life of their existing endpoint devices while precisely controlling all devices running IGEL OS from a single dashboard interface. IGEL has offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com.
