IBM is launching a new product that will help customers manage virtual desktop deployments by reducing storage requirements by up to 80 per cent.

Virtual Storage Optimizer is based on an algorithm developed by IBM Research.

"We are helping customers take advantage of virtual desktops at a lower cost, " said IBM's Scott Johnson.

Johnson added that IBM had identified the main difficulty customers have when adopting cloud computing as the cost and complexity of managing storage.

The software will also speed up the deployment of virtual machines by cutting the time it takes to create new desktop images by about 30 minutes, IBM said.

The announcement was made at VMworld in Las Vegas, where VMware unveiled its new universal client initiative aimed at allowing customers access to desktop resources from any location and any device.