XenDesktop, which will be co-marketed with Microsoft, is a desktop delivery solution that allows companies to virtualise Windows desktops in the datacentre.

Citrix has provided a web site where channel partners can sign up for the XenDesktop programme, which will allow resellers to pre-enroll, prepare for the product’s availability, review the requirements of becoming a Citrix solution adviser and view training course availability.

Roger Baskerville, regional director of northern Europe at Citrix, said: “Virtualisation only used to be available to enterprises, but due to lower-cost virtualised desktop products, it is now being adopted by mid-sized companies too.

“Traditionally virtualisation has been eye-wateringly expensive. Now with lower costs and less complexity it widens the market for resellers to sell into and add value to.”

Tim Hall, director of Citrix Gold partner Teksys, said: “Virtualisation is hot on everyone’s agenda, but it is desktop virtualisation that creates a tipping point for adoption because it offers significant savings.”

Vendor Marathon Technologies, a strategic partner of Citrix, recently signed up distributor DataSolutions in Ireland and IQ SYs in the UK.

Nick Turnbull, director of sales for EMEA and Asia Pacific at Marathon, said: “DataSolutions is the largest Citrix distributor in Ireland and IQ SYs is the largest in the UK. Both distributors are recruiting resellers to help with education on virtualisation.”

IQ SYs recently revealed plans to recruit 30 new resellers this year.

David Turner, vendor development manger at IQ SYs, said: “As Citrix develops its strategy, IQ SYs is developing its own. IQ SYs plans to build on its partner base this year in the Citrix channel and outside of it.”

The XenDesktop will be available from 20 May.