Business owners and employees may no longer have excuses for not being productive when they’re away from the office. That’s because Parallels has extended Parallels Access, its remote desktop access app, to the iPhone as well as Android phones and tablets.
The Parallels Access 2.0 app lets companies centrally assign, manage, and secure remote access to their computers. It lets users run full Windows applications on their iPads — and now iPhones and Android devices — by connecting remotely to Macs or PCs, eliminating the need to carry around bulky laptops.
Because iPad business users were so enamored by Parallels Access when it was first released in August 2013, the company decided to offer the same solution to Android and iPhone users.
A Touching Experience
“While traditional remote desktop products are trying to show a large desktop on a small mobile device, we worked hard to make remote access from mobile devices a truly simple and effective experience,” said Jack Zubarev, president of Parallels. “With this in mind, Parallels Access enables people to interact with full-featured Mac and PC apps with touch gestures just like the apps were made for their iPhone, iPad or Android device.”
Laura DiDio, principal analyst of ITIC, said that Parallels Access is a must-have mechanism to remotely access your Windows or Mac applications and files from your tablet or phone.
“Its breakthrough ‘applification’ technology transforms desktop applications and integrates native mobile features and functions so they are fully usable with touch gestures as though they were made for your mobile device,” she added.
DiDio’s bottom line: Parallels Access is the industry’s best Windows and Mac remote access application. “Parallels Access is a reliable, fast and intuitive experience that finally makes mobile devices effective productivity tools,” she said.
Lots of New Features, Too
In addition to the new platforms, Parallels Access also offers Facebook login integration so users can log in quickly and easily. Users can also launch desktop applications with a single tap right from the home screen of an Android device. And a new file browser lets iOS users quickly browse and open files on their remote computers using Parallels Access.
Desktop applications that use microphones can now be used with the microphones on iPads and iPhones. Also users can change the screen resolution to best fit different types of devices.
“Today most all employees have an iPad, iPhone, Android tablet or Android phone and carry them everywhere,” said Tim Bajarin, CEO and analyst at Creative Strategies. “Until recently they were merely consumption devices. Now, thanks to revolutionary apps that transform mobile devices into powerful productivity tools, people can intuitively access all of their full-featured Windows and Mac computer applications and files from anywhere so they can get more done on the move.”
What’s Available
Available now are subscriptions for Parallels Access for Business, which enables IT admins to centrally manage Parallels Access for their employees, including granting or restricting access and reassigning accounts as needed. Business Account subscriptions start at $ 49.99 per year for five computers.
Parallels Access is available in the Apple iTunes App Store and on Google Play with a two-week free trial. Individual subscriptions are available for $ 19.99 for one year or $ 34.99 for two years, and include the ability to access up to five remote computers from an unlimited number of iOS and Android tablets and phones.
NewsFactor Network
