Microsoft details Windows Vista for corporates

Windows Vista promises easier deployment and virtualisation features for IT managers

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows Vista will come in six core versions, two of which will target businesses. Of these, the Enterprise edition will include better deployment tools and virtualisation capabilities as standard, but will only be available under Software Assurance licensing. The product is set to ship by the end of 2006.

Microsoft's forthcoming desktop platform will ship in two versions for business users: Windows Vista Enterprise and Windows Vista Business. Three other versions are aimed at consumers, while Windows Vista Starter is aimed at developing countries.

The Business edition of Vista is aimed at smaller companies, and benefits include better security, improved search facilities, and Tablet PC technology. The Enterprise edition has four key features for large organizations: Windows BitLocker drive encryption; a single worldwide deployment image; Virtual PC Express; and Microsoft's Subsystem for Unix-based Applications (SUA).

"With Vista Enterprise, firms can deploy a single global binary containing all the language packs they need," said David Weeks, Windows Client marketing manager at Microsoft UK. This simplifies multiple language support, which can prove complex with older Windows versions, he added.

However, Vista Enterprise will only be available via subscription licensing, Microsoft confirmed. Customers wanting the Enterprise edition must sign up to an enterprise agreement including Software Assurance, Weeks said.

Some organisations may be deterred by this requirement, but Microsoft is sweetening the pill by including Virtual PC Express, allowing firms to run virtual machines on the desktop for compatibility with legacy applications. Vista Enterprise includes licensing for an additional Microsoft operating system to run in such a virtual machine.

The Windows BitLocker feature provides enhanced security on PC systems with a trusted platform module (TPM), according to Weeks. With the entire hard disk encrypted and keys stored in the TPM, only a user with a valid login will be able to access files on the hard drive, he said.

Vista Enterprise edition also includes Microsoft's SUA, which enables users to run Unix applications on a Windows PC. This capability was previously only available with Windows server operating systems.