HDX. It’s all about user experience. We continually expand the use cases we deliver, based on feedback from you.

A key pillar of HDX is Unified Communications. Unified communication (UC) tools are gaining tremendous adoption for collaboration and productivity. In 2015, Citrix delivered the first solution for optimizing Microsoft Skype for Business in a virtualized environment with its HDX RealTime Optimization Pack (RTOP), and now this solution has over 750,000 active daily users.

Today, we are excited to announce two industry-first innovations around Unified Communications that further expand our close engineering and business relationship with Microsoft.

Optimizing web-based Microsoft Teams in a virtualized environment

Citrix is the first in the industry to deliver a solution for optimizing web-based Microsoft Teams in a virtual environment. We want to ensure the best possible user experience of a virtualized instance of web-based Teams. To do so, Citrix leverages Browser Content Redirection (BCR) on the VDA – your virtual desktop or published browser — and the new embedded browser within Citrix Workspace app on the endpoint.

By redirecting web-based Microsoft Teams rendering to the browser within Citrix Workspace app, Citrix is able to optimize the Teams user experience due to the fact that the processing and rendering occurs on the endpoint. In addition, server scalability is increased as the web-based Teams instances consume less CPU on the VDAs. This new capability not only optimizes Microsoft Teams, but also optimizes any WebRTC application. To get started, you will need the Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) 1808 and Citrix Workspace app 1809 for Windows.

Bringing the HDX RealTime Optimization Pack for Skype for Business to Google Chromebooks

Citrix is extending the capabilities of its immensely popular Skype for Business optimization solution for virtual environments. Our HDX RealTime Optimization Pack for Skype for Business was co-developed with Microsoft and has over 750,000 daily active users.

Now, with the HDX RealTime Optimization Pack 2.6, we are bringing this industry first innovation to Google Chromebooks. It works with both virtual desktops and with Skype for Business as a published application. You get the device flexibility and choice of low-cost endpoints, while improving productivity and collaboration and still providing the best possible experience to your users.

This capability requires HDX RealTime Media Engine 2.6, the Citrix Workspace app 1809 for Android, and Intel-based x86 Chromebook devices that can run Android apps (ARC++), as well as access to the Google Play store. Check out this video of optimized Skype for Business on Google Chromebooks in action!

Check out Fernando Klurfan’s blog post, “Citrix and Microsoft are teaming up for Teams,” for more information on our UC history with Microsoft and future RTOP plans for Skype for Business and Teams.

If you are attending Microsoft Ignite from September 24-28 in Orlando, FL, swing by Booth 414 in the main expo hall, and attend our breakout session on Thursday, October 30 from 2:15-3:30 to get more information on how Citrix and Microsoft are driving the future of work in the modern workplace.