Tech Data polishes up Chrome devices to shine as thin clients

By Simon Meredith | 5th January 2017

Attractive devices and easy management are big advantages – wider availability of Microsoft Office and other productivity apps bring added appeal to business users

Basingstoke, 05 January 2017 – Tech Data is preparing a programme and series of events to promote the concept of using Chrome devices as thin clients. It believes there is good potential in this area for the technology and wants to help more resellers become authorised to sell Chrome Device Management in the B2B market.

“Chrome devices share many of the attributes of thin clients”, said Matt Beresford, Google Business Development Manager at Tech Data. “Chromebooks are easy to maintain and affordable.  They are also extremely portable and much easier to manage. These are big advantages over traditional thin clients. Organisations can use Chrome devices in VMware or Citrix environments, and their easy mobility and appealing looks make them more attractive to users.”

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 Apps can be rolled-out, updated and withdrawn, and user access controlled.

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

Chrome devices have also become more appealing to business and public sector users now that Microsoft is allowing owners to use the Office suite for Android on their machines, he noted. For devices with displays of 10.1-inches or less, anyone that has a full subscription on any other platform will be able to have full and free access to Office 365 on their Chrome OS device. These users will then be able to create, edit and print documents as normal. Users with larger Chrome machines will be able to access a restricted version of the productivity suite.

“It is already possible for Chrome OS to run Android apps and access the Google Play Store and with the Office 365 access available as well, Chromebooks and other Chrome OS devices are a much more attractive proposition for everyday business use. It is easier to use a Chrome device offline and that’s really useful,” Beresford said.

“It will make premium Chromebooks, like the new ASUS ‘Cave’, the C302, which was due to be launched at CES this month, and Acer’s Chromebook R 11 and R 13 devices more appealing to business users.”

More information about Chrome devices and options can be found on Tech Data’s dedicated microsite at http://google.techdata.co.uk/opencms/en/.

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About Tech Data

Tech Data Corporation is one of the world’s largest wholesale distributors of technology products, services and solutions. Its advanced logistics capabilities and value added services enable 105,000 resellers to efficiently and cost effectively support the diverse technology needs of end users in more than 100 countries. Tech Data generated $26.4 billion in net sales for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016. It is ranked No. 108 on the Fortune 500® and one of Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies.”  To learn more, visit www.techdata.com, or follow on Facebook and Twitter.

For further information contact:
Sara Gemmell
Marketing Services Director
Tel: 0871 880 3000
www.techdata.co.uk
Twitter: @techdatauk

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