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Cameyo's Virtual App Delivery Service Adds ChromeOS Support

• By Kurt Mackie
• August 22, 2023

Cameyo has integrated its Virtual App Delivery service with Google's ChromeOS, adding to existing Linux and Windows support, per a Tuesday announcement.

Organization can now run both software-as-a-service (SaaS) apps and so-called "legacy" apps on ChromeOS devices. Cameyo's service supports "Windows, Linux, SaaS and internal web apps."

While Cameyo's service runs these apps as progressive Web apps (PWAs), "any application can be published as a PWA through the ChromeOS Virtual App Delivery with Cameyo service -- especially legacy desktop apps," explained Robb Henshaw, Cameyo's cofounder and chief marketing officer, via e-mail.

The Linux-based ChromeOS uses the Chrome browser as its user interface. The notion that ChromeOS is less well suited for hardware-intensive apps is lessened with cloud hosting, according to Henshaw:

The ChromeOS Virtual App Delivery with Cameyo service separates apps from the device, running apps completely from the cloud, enabling the service to dynamically provide the right level of resources needed to run any app. This enables organizations to utilize all of their applications, including graphics-intensive applications that traditionally have greater hardware requirements.

Cameyo's Virtual App Delivery service provides graphics processing unit support for such apps, and is used by customers to run hardware-intensive applications such as the Adobe Creative Suite and AutoCAD. Henshaw added that "there are no limitations when it comes to running Microsoft Office applications" using Cameyo's service, including the desktop versions.

ChromeOS Features
The use of the Google ChromeOS with the service was described as adding "multi-layered security" benefits. Here's Cameyo's description of those benefits:

Both ChromeOS and Cameyo are built with a Zero Trust security model that ensures apps and devices are isolated from network resources and segmented by default so that users only access the apps and data they need to get their jobs done, all while eliminating the need to expose firewall and server ports to the open internet.

Cameyo's ChromeOS integrated solution works with progressive Web apps, and has "native file system integration" using the ChromeOS File System Connector. File types are recognized for launching applications when users double-click on a file. The solution also works with the ChromeOS Clipboard Connector for copy-and-paste operations "across all application types."

Goodbye, Desktop
Organizations can access Cameyo's service "in any cloud, hybrid or on-premises environment of their choice," Henshaw indicated. Its Virtual App Delivery technology "distributes and runs the entire application from a host server, eliminating the need for a virtual desktop," unlike other virtualization approaches, such as virtual desktop infrastructure and desktop-as-a-service offerings.

Cameyo's approach eliminates cross-platform compatibility issues with operating systems. All that's needed to use applications is an HTML5-based browser.

"We believe that the concept of the desktop is an antiquated, pre-cloud concept that no longer aligns with the way that people work," Henshaw stated.

Cameyo suggested that its service offers a "54 percent reduction in Total Cost of Ownership compared to virtual desktops," citing a study by the Enterprise Strategy Group. That finding is based on hardware and software licensing cost reductions, plus operational cost reductions.

Availability
The integration of Cameyo's Virtual App Delivery services with ChromeOS is now available to organizations "worldwide." Henshaw explained that "for the time being, organizations still need to purchase ChromeOS and Cameyo licenses separately, but once those licenses are activated, they will be able to take advantage of the product integrations announced today."

Here are the ballpark pricing estimates for the using the integrated service (before volume discounts), according to Henshaw:

• Cameyo Full-Hosted license - $264 per user/per year
• Cameyo Self-Hosted license - $132 per user/per year
• Chrome Enterprise Upgrade license - $50 per year/per device

Cary, N.C.-based Cameyo was named as a Chrome Enterprise Recommended Partner by Google last year. Support for Linux apps was announced last year, expanding from Windows apps support.