Cisco (News - Alert) has announced new software called the Virtualization Experience Media Engine (VXME), saying that it extends the Cisco Jabber unified communications application to virtualized workspace environments.

This latest introduction is part of the company’s long-term software strategy for collaboration-enabling virtual desktops, according to company officials.

Cisco Jabber allows access to presence, instant messaging (IM), voice, video, voice messaging, desktop sharing, and conferencing. Company officials said that it enables users to find the right people, see if and how they are available and collaborate using the preferred method.

“With Cisco Jabber now available for virtual environments, we are enabling customers to deliver a complete 'anywhere' desktop to their employees, without sacrificing the exceptional enterprise capabilities they have come to expect,” said Phil Sherburne, vice president of engineering for Enterprise Smart Solutions at Cisco, adding that as part of an end-to-end VXI solution, Cisco Jabber creates a new user experience for the virtual desktop.

With the new offering, users can access Jabber's enterprise-class collaboration capabilities, including voice and high-definition (HD) video, presence and IM as part of the Cisco Virtualization Experience Infrastructure (VXI) Smart Solution, said company officials.

On the Cisco Unified Data Center, the Cisco VXI end-to-end solution for desktop virtualization centrally hosts virtual desktops, applications and collaboration services. Company officials said that they are also delivered across a Cisco network to a wide range of user devices, offering “superior virtual workspace experience.”

Additionally, the company also announced support for new desktop accessories. Logitech (News - Alert) and Jabra have exclusively designed these accessories for Cisco. Company officials said that Cisco, Jabra and Logitech have teamed to enhance the collaboration desktop featuring voice, computing and video services in a fully integrated virtual desktop solution built around Jabber.

Enabled by VXME, Cisco Jabber for virtual environments is initially available on Cisco's thin client, the Virtualization Experience Client (VXC) 6215. Company officials said that in the first half of this year, the company intends to extend the VXME software to Dell (News - Alert) Wyse's Z50D thin client. In addition, it’s also expected to support third-party Windows-based thin clients and Windows PCs, enabling an enhanced enterprise collaboration experience to other endpoints as part of the VXI architecture.

According to company officials, this latest announcement makes Cisco VXI the first desktop virtualization architecture to integrate network-based quality of service (QoS).

Moreover, Cisco Jabber for virtual environments enables Cisco VXI to improve the collaboration experience, eliminating the need to compromise on voice and video capabilities.

Company officials said that Cisco Jabber for virtual environments is compatible with Cisco VXI solutions running Citrix XenDesktop 5.6 FP1, Citrix XenApp Published Desktop version 6.5, or VMware View 5.1.

Scott Davis, chief technology officer for End User Computing at VMware, said that as part of Cisco's end-to-end VXI architecture, Cisco Jabber for virtual environments offers VMware View customers real-time collaboration capabilities including high-definition voice and video, helping to drive a more flexible, productive and connected workplace.

Recently, Cisco also announced two new connected health offerings designed to meet an increasing need in the healthcare industry for software and services that helps enable efficient, convenient, high-quality patient care, and more collaboration across the healthcare continuum.

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