It’s been a busy nine months for Citrix Systems Inc. The Coral Lakes, Florida-based Microsoft Corp ally has gone from strength to strength during the period, thanks to its ICA Intelligent Console Architecture protocol, which enables users of windowing terminals and other skinny clients to access Windows applications running on Windows NT servers. Pre-tax profits soared to $5.3m for the three months to September 30, compared to $984,000 last time around on revenue that rose by 173% to $11.7m. For the nine months, Pre-tax profits jumped to $11.8m from $466,000 before, on revenue up more that 200% at $29m. It looks like a classic case of having the right technology at the right time, for the inability of Network Computers and other terminals to run Windows locally has sent vendors scurrying to Citrix and its partners for ICA licenses. The company attributed its success to the growing acceptance of Windows NT in the marketplace and the accelerated adoption of ICA as a de facto distributed windows protocol standard. Current licensees include Microsoft itself, Wyse Technology Inc, Boundless Inc, Tektronix Inc and Network Computing Devices Inc. In the third quarter, Microsoft bundled the ICA-based WinFrame Web client with its Internet Explorer 3.0 and Starter Kit. IBM is reference selling Win Frame in OS/2 customer installations and Citrix now offers a plug-in version of its ICA engine, which allows Netscape browser customers to access WinFrame servers and run robust 32bit windows applications on corporate Intranets. And last month the firm announced it is in deep talks with Sun Microsystems Inc (CI No 2,995). A letter of intent has been signed between the two regarding a proposed license to incorporate ICA into Sun’s future releases. Cash balances and short term investments at the nine month stage were up a healthy 196% on last time at $128.6m. In his statement chief executive Roger Roberts said the funds would enable the group to pursue strategic opportunities in products and technology, as well as expand global sales and marketing presence.