Applications:

Citrix Launches Cost Analyzer Tool

Citrix Systems Inc, a global leader in application serving and portal software and services, announced the availability of the Application Computing Environment (ACE) Cost Analyzer. This Web-based analysis tool, available free from the Citrix.com website, assists customers and prospects in evaluating the potential cost savings associated with implementing a Citrix-based IT solution. Developed in conjunction with independent strategic consulting and technology research firm, Kaptronix, the ACE Cost Analyzer was created specifically for analyzing the economic impact of Citrix MetaFrame XP for Windows(R) and Citrix MetaFrame for UNIX application serving software, Citrix NFuse portal software, and Citrix Extranet VPN security software on an organization's computing environment.

"IT managers have intuitively understood the economic benefits of server-based computing but have lacked objective tools to quantify these benefits for their specific application computing environments. The ACE Cost Analyzer fills this gap with a comprehensive cost analysis model that is fully reflective of each organization's distinct computing environment," said Atul Kapoor, a principal at Kaptronix Inc.

The Citrix ACE Cost Analyzer was created to help users get the answers they need about the cost of various solutions, without requiring them to perform complex calculations themselves. The ACE Cost Analyzer collects and verifies key cost elements related to an organization's unique end-user computing environment, resulting in a personalized set of high-impact tables and charts ready for printing or emailing to colleagues. Calculating a wide variety of variables that work together to affect the total cost of deploying and managing applications -- such as the number of users supported remotely, the number and average cost of total desktop devices, notebooks, and thin-client appliances, the cost to support, maintain and upgrade applications, the impact of downtime on user productivity, and the cost to provide heterogeneous and Web-based application access -- the Citrix ACE Cost Analyzer helps organizations understand the effects of relevant variables in order to intelligently deploy applications in the most economically sound manner.

A companion white paper, authored by Doculabs Inc, www.doculabs.com, an independent industry analyst and advisory firm, is also available for users to further understand the factors and computations used within the ACE Cost Analyzer. The white paper, titled, "Improving the Bottom Line Through Server-Based Technology: A Comparative Cost Analysis," reinforces the tool by articulating key cost metrics and benefits derived from adopting a server-based solution. In addition to studying the Citrix solution in comparison to unmanaged and managed desktop computing environments, Doculabs interviewed Citrix customers to understand the real-world strengths and challenges of implementing and managing Citrix software. Doculabs' research includes findings such as the benefits users derive from incorporating Citrix into their IT infrastructure. Among the top customer benefits cited are cost savings, ease of deployment, centralized management and control, technology unification, ease of support, low bandwidth requirements, ease of support, and improved availability.

The ACE Cost Analyzer interactive Web-based tool and companion white paper are available at www.citrix.com/costanalyzer and at www.acecostanalyzer.com and can be accessed by Citrix end users, partners, resellers and sales personnel to analyze the potential cost savings and benefits derived from adopting Citrix products. An additional hyperlink at the site, titled Related Research, provides access to an expanding library of over two dozen relevant industry analyst reviews and white papers about Citrix application serving solutions published during the past 18 months.

About Citrix

Citrix Systems Inc is a global leader in application serving and portal software and services that provide personalized access to any application or information source -- whether Windows, UNIX or Web-based -- through any device, over any connection. Companies worldwide use Citrix technologies to integrate applications, content and business processes into a pervasive digital environment -- a virtual workplace -- offering seamless connectivity and a consistent user experience across the Internet, intranets, extranets, WANs, LANs and wireless networks. Citrix solutions drive cost efficiency, productivity and enhanced e-business opportunities by enabling companies to leverage existing IT resources and extend personalized information access to employees, partners, customers and suppliers.

Citrix products offer rapid, cost-effective deployment and include MetaFrame application serving software, NFuse application portal software, Citrix Extranet VPN software, XPS portal software, and Citrix Independent Computing Architecture (ICA), a core application serving technology. The company markets its application serving products through a well-established reseller channel and sells its portal software products directly to customers to provide the level of customization they need. Citrix is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol CTXS, and is part of the Standard and Poor's 500 Index. Citrix is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, please visit the Citrix Web site at www.citrix.com.