From New York City’s Public schools to the Republic of Macedonia, NComputing is spreading its virtualization products around the world.
 
In a partnership announced June 14, the Redwood City, Calif.-based company will team with Chinese PC maker Haier to expand the use of virtual computing stations to at least 18 countries across Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Haier will manufacture the monitors, keyboards and mice, while NComputing will provide the software and access device that can connect 10 stations to a single PC.

Using NComputing virtualization software and hardware allows many users to connect to a single device, saving power and money. Each unit uses only one watt of power, compared to about 110 watts consumed by a normal PC.

"NComputing's virtual desktops have broken the cost barrier and by partnering with Haier, we will be able to bring the technology to millions of students and citizens around the world," Stephen Dukker, chairman and CEO of NComputing, said in a prepared statement.

According to Raj Shah, chief marketing officer, the cost per seat will only be about $150, which includes all the necessary hardware, software and network infrastructure. In areas where electricity is unreliable or unavailable, 30 virtual computers can be powered by a solar array or a small generator.

"Especially in these developing countries, they all get it: We need to bring our citizens and our students into the digital age," Shah said in a telephone interview.

These affordable computers allow people to learn basic skills, like using keyboards, mice, word processing and the Internet.

"Computer literacy is just as important as reading literacy, but now they can afford it," Shah said. These products are particuluarly useful in remote places where it may take days for an IT person to arrive on site. A computer lab can be set up in a matter of hours, rather than days. For example, in one rural school in India, the equipment was shipped by elephant back.

The countries to be initially targeted include: Senegal, Ghana, Egypt, and Rwanda in Africa; Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in Asia; and Argentina, Chile and Colombia in Latin America. Developing countries often get aid money from the U.S., the United Nations or other major international financial institutions that can then be used to finance computing projects in schools and in governments.

One of the first challenges is informing goverments about the options for virtualization. Proposals must then be written so funds will buy twice as many computer stations or used at twice as many schools. “We almost always win because our costs are lower,” said Shah.

Earlier this year NComputing’s virtualization software and hardware was implemented in New York City school districts. The company won the Wall Street Journal’s Technology Innovation award in 2007.

The X series products allow up to 11 users to be connected to a single PC. Image courtesy of NComputing

School districts often choose the X series products, which is the lower-cost option but has a 30-foot distance limitation to connect each computer access unit to the main PC, Shah said. Governments or large businesses often opt for the L series products, which cost slightly more, but are connected through standard Ethernet cables and can be implemented in large buildings or warehouses.

Even though there are 2.2 million children using their technology, Shah said, "we still have a long way to go."

_{Image of Macedonia classroom courtesy of NComputing}