SoftGrid is officially dead, but this is only valid for the label and not for the actual product. The Redmond giant rebranded SoftGrid as Microsoft Application Virtualization, and as of September 3, 2008, version 4.5 has been released to manufacturing. The gold bits of App-V 4.5 offer Microsoft customers the successor of SoftGrid 4.2, which RTM'ed in 2007. According to the Redmond company, the new release brings much more to the table than a simple rebranding, including new options adding flexibility and ensuring a scalable infrastructure, complete with centralized management capabilities. Andrew Montgomery, senior program manager, Microsoft Application Virtualization, also emphasized Dynamic Application Virtualization, and Support for Microsoft Standards.

 

"It includes new capabilities designed to help IT support large-scale virtualization implementations across many sites and provides multiple delivery options, including over-the-internet application delivery," Montgomery said. "Newly added support for eleven languages enables your users to work in localized environments with localized applications. Dynamic Suite Composition (DSC) provides administrator-controlled virtual application communication and interaction. Compliance with Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing and Secure by Default initiatives was also introduced in this release. Finally, integration with Microsoft System Center Management Products and infrastructure updates via Windows Update will make managing the product even easier."

 

Application Virtualization 4.5 has already been integrated into in excess of 70,000 seats in production environments, according to Montgomery, courtesy of the internal Microsoft IT team, but also the company's Technology Adoption Program customers. The software company will include App-V 4.5 into the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack and Microsoft Application Virtualization for Terminal Services. At the same time, Microsoft Product Support Services will offer support for the product.

 

"App-V 4.5 is the first version of the product to be developed according to the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle. The product now has the Microsoft standard Secure by Default configuration out of the box. With RTM, the product is now localized into 11 languages other than English. This will enable many customers worldwide to see the App-V interface in their native language. Applications written in any non-English languages (except complex script languages) can now be successfully virtualized and deployed via App-V," Montgomery added.