Variable performance, the high cost per desktop and an inability to scale operations have traditionally been the issues that have hindered VDI deployments. The joint VDI solution combining Gridstore’s hyper-converged infrastructure and the innovative Windows application delivery capabilities of Unidesk effectively removes these barriers to provide high-performance, low-cost and easy to manage VDI.
“Price, performance and complexity are common complaints thwarting VDI deployments, but this will no longer happen with the disruptive combined solution from Gridstore and Unidesk,” said Bruce Hockin, Director of Storage Solutions, Cloud Distribution. “Gridstore has an outstanding platform for Microsoft environments and Unidesk has industry leading layering technology. They are extremely complementary; and together deliver high performance, scalable centralised desktop projects not seen at this price point before.
It is a formidable proposition for our channel partners to improve their project win rates and profitability. There's rapid growth in this space right now and this joint vendor partnership signing will provide our channel partners the industry-leading solutions they demand to enable incremental sales and services revenues. The early response from partners has been phenomenal.”
Cloud Distribution is the only distributor in the UK for both Gridstore and Unidesk and is primarily responsible developing the channel for the joint solution, with the focus on driving Microsoft-centric partner engagement. Cloud plans to recruit between 12-18 partners in the compute/storage market as well as Microsoft VARs who have the specialised skills based around virtualised environments and VDI.
“Gridstore and Unidesk together have demonstrated the ability to deliver a superior VDI solution for less than ₤400 per desktop – less than the price of a physical PC. This unified solution provides an optimised platform and framework that delivers a true turnkey VDI experience,” said Andy Hill, VP Sales, EMEA, Gridstore. “Now with Cloud Distribution who know well the storage and virtualisation market, we can bring this disruptive solution to the UK market.”
“Unidesk and Gridstore have delivered a revolutionary solution that brings three crucial components to ease adoption - IT simplicity, an enhanced user experience and for the first time a lower-than-PC price point,” said Roger Baskerville, Regional Director, EMEA, Unidesk. “Cloud’s value based approach offering outstanding support, training and market development to partners was a crucial factor in us appointing them as our distributor. Our level of integration is already very close, with them effectively becoming our channel and allowing us to focus on customer growth.”
As well as the integrated proposition as a VDI solution into the Microsoft channel, Cloud will also take Gridstore and Unidesk to market individually and offer to partners as stand-alone solutions. All partners will have access to extensive marketing support via Cloud's Altitude Marketing Services to simplify and accelerate their go to market, sales pipeline and new revenue.