Citrix Systems Inc has added nine new OEMs for its ICA Independent Computing Architecture protocol, broadening out the range of devices able to deliver Windows-based applications. The nine include Acute Technologies Inc, Datalight Inc, DT Research Inc, Eio Touchsystems, FYI-Net, NEC Computer Systems Division, Sharp Electronics UK Ltd, Takaoka and The Watermann Group. Acute will use the protocol with its ThinCast series of Windows-based terminals. Datalight, which has developed the ROM-DOS and WinLight MS-DOS and Windows-compatible operating systems for systems with limited memory, will embed Citrix technology within its software. DT Research, a Milpitas, California-based company, is planning to launch a range of thin client devices that will use ICA. Eio produces touchscreen technology for kiosks and point-of-sale systems. FYI-Net is a training and sales software company. NEC will use ICA in its MobilePro handheld PC companion, and Sharp UK will use it in its PV-5000 and HC-4600 mobile computing devices. The Japanese thin-client company Takaoka will use ICA for what it claims will be the first Windows-based terminals to go on sale in Japan. And Bohemia, New York-based thin client and wireless communications company, The Watermann Group says it plans to expand the capabilities of ICA to include technologies such as signature capture, handwriting recognition and video capture and recognition. At one time ICA looked as if it would have a limited life, as Microsoft Corp has a competitive protocol, the RDP Remote Desktop Protocol, designed to reach out to non-Windows platforms. But Microsoft itself ended up using ICA in Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition, and seems content enough to let Citrix handle this side of the business for the time being. Meanwhile Microsoft’s revised licensing terms for Terminal Server, which effectively halved its price (CI No 3,578) set off a series of price cuts among Windows terminal vendors. Wyse cut prices on its WinTerm Windows terminals by 25%, NeoWare went further with 37% cuts, Hewlett-Packard Co set 14% cuts. Network Computing Devices offered a bundle of terminal, software and services said to save customers $1,500.
