Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) yesterday unveiled the third-generation of its vPro Technology offerings, which company executives say will provide businesses and IT departments with more enhanced security, manageability and small business performance capabilities than ever before.
The latest phase of vPro Technology, which was previously code-named “McCreary,” will help make end-users’ jobs easier and help them save money, says Gregory Bryant, general manager and vice-president of Intel’s digital office platform division.
“IT managers are looking for more managed ways to deliver applications,” Bryant said. “VPro Technology lowers any hurdles the channel may have when it comes to managed services by letting them show their customers value right out of the box.”
Intel, Bryant says, wants to encourage those channel partners who have not gotten into the realm of managed services, to begin exploring the opportunities that the third-generation of vPro now brings to bear.
Some of the new feature sets included in the new vPro include a Remote Alert feature, which allows a PC to “call” for IT assistance on its own, Remote Scheduled Maintenance, which allows IT administrators to control PCs by ensuring they are up-to-date and complaint, Fast Call for Help feature, which provides end-users with immediate assistance with the click of a button, and more.
Along with vPro, Intel also introduced Dynamic Virtual Client technologies (DVC), which enables users to stream applications on demand to a desktop or laptop where the applications then run using the PC’s own processing power. This not only increases performance, but it also helps make things like IT management and security easier, Bryant said.
“Built in manageability features save time and money spent on PCs,” Bryant says. “For service providers, vPro Technology gives them the ability to be able to deliver new services and to gain access to new customers.”
Intel has also incorporated Intel IT Director and Intel Remote PC Assist Technology into vPro, both of which are specifically designed with small businesses with less than 25 notebooks or desktop PCs in mind.
With Intel IT director, status, system and health parameter settings are available, in addition to having a built-in data back-up feature.
Intel Remote PC Assist Technology is another functionality that links businesses with service providers, which ultimately gives Intel channel partners an increased gateway to Intel’s end-user community.
“Things like security are important to small businesses,” Bryant said. “These businesses are focused on growing their business and don’t want to be distracted by being their own IT guy or worry about having to hire someone else to do it. If they can sign up with one of our partners, it’s an opportunity for our partners to make more money.”
Intel’s vPro Technology offering is now available and will begin shipping to original equipment manufacturers shortly said Bryant.
VPro combines Intel’s Core 2 quad-core or dual-core processors with the new Intel Q45 Express Chipset.
In addition to the enhanced feature sets of Intel’s third-generation of vPro, Intel also announced two motherboards which support all of the new Intel vPro capabilities and functionalities. These motherboards include the Intel Desktop Board DQ45CB and the Intel Desktop Board DQ45EK. Initial shipments of the new motherboards are expected to hit Canadian distributors next week.