Citrix Synergy 2012 kicked off on a high note this past Wednesday. At the center of it all was the ongoing discussion of how the cloud era is changing the course of mobility, virtualization and cloud computing, with an emphasis on mobility.

Mobility

Mobility is a sector Citrix intends to attack aggressively as demand mounts on both the consumer and enterprise sides.  Early this year Citrix Systems announced a Google-sponsored project called Mobilize the Cloud – A Reality.  Pundits gathered to evaluate the many cloud requirements for industry verticals with a mobile workforce, including field sales, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and transportation. At the event, Citrix Systems finally debuted Citrix Podio, a team-based collaboration platform for mobile workstyles and cloud spaces. It’s also integrated with popular platforms such as GoToMeeting, Citrix ShareFile, Evernote, Google Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive and SugarSync.

In a recent report Bernardo de Albergaria, VP and GM of Collaboration at Citrix gave his insights on the developments within the mobile collaboration space, saying, “This is one more way we’re enabling people to simply and effectively get real work done. Through the social power of the Podio collaboration platform, we’re the first to provide this type of integrated cloud-based support for team-based collaboration.

“We’re delivering easy and seamless access to today’s leading productivity services and we’ve done this with simplicity, affordability and customer experience in mind, continuing our support for the evolution of how work gets done.”

Virtualization and Cloud Computing

The second day of the Citrix Synergy marked a few new things for Citrix, as they revealed technology partners for Citrix HDX-Ready System-on-Chip. The joint ventures will support the said product to deliver and boost high-definition desktop applications to thin client displays using PoE, or Power-over-Ethernet, often used to send data and electricity over the same set of wires.  Some of the partners include HP, NComputing, LG and Fujitsu.

The attendees were also fortunate to have witnessed the unveiling of ten new initiatives in cloud computing and virtualization. Included in the pack are the new HDX Universal Printer Server, GoToMeeting HDFaces for the iPad, ShareFile Storage Zones, New Cloud Platform, NetScaler 10 for AWS, previously mentioned Podio, acquisition of Virtual Computer, lower pricing for VDI, acquisition of Viral Computer, launch of RemotePC and Project Avalon.

Apart from these announcements, Citrix showed its support to newcomers as they awarded and added two new companies to its Startup Appcelerator roster.  ScriptRock and AppEnsure were given $100K each.  Also present at the event to showcase their partnership with Citrix and Wyse is Dell, with a stalwart booth highlighting Citrix VDI in a Box software coupled with a Wyse zero client in action, or testing out DVS Simplified Desktop as a Service (DaaS and Dell Virtual Labs solution is purpose- built to solve the specific IT problems in the education field.