BigHand created a unique virtual audio channel which is optimised for their software enabling clients to significantly reduce bandwidth usage while centralising the delivery of Applications and Desktops through Citrix.

BigHand, renowned for developing market leading voice productivity software and workflow solutions, has developed their virtual channel since the days of Citrix Presentation Server in 2003 through to XenApp today, adding XenDesktop in 2012, and continually testing against the latest releases allowing their clients to use the most up to date versions of Citrix.

This long standing relationship with Citrix, together with an in depth understanding of virtualisation, gives them a competitive advantage and the ability to offer their clients the customised and fully developed virtual audio channel created, and optimised for BigHand software.

This virtual channel technology provides both audio redirection and highly efficient USB pass through of the devices supported by BigHand, enabling a large number of concurrent users to use the technology with no issues. This is an attractive solution to large and growing organisations whose users have varying needs.

Sagnik Datta, Citrix Ready Technical Marketing Specialist at Citrix, comments:

"BigHand is a great value add for our customers and highlights how our virtual channel SDK has enabled our ecosystem partners with such innovative solutions. I am proud to announce this solution is Citrix Ready on all our existing platform versions.”

BigHand currently has over 70 000 users worldwide benefiting from using their software powered by Citrix products. The ability to work remotely accessing applications and desktops, from anywhere globally, through a centralised Citrix infrastructure, enables clients to manage upgrades to the BigHand application with ease.

BigHand used the Citrix virtual channel SDK to develop the audio channel. A fundamental differentiator is that BigHand clients are using a fraction of bandwidth when compared to other USB audio redirection mechanisms. This ability to decrease the transfer time of data between the server and the user enables them to minimise any delays in the audio and enable recordings to be played back in real time, making transcription more efficient.

A distinct advantage to clients running BigHand powered by Citrix means there are huge efficiencies to be made, both from an operational and cost perspective, as a large number of users are no longer bound by the resources of their individual computers, and are able to make full use of BigHand’s voice productivity and workflow solutions, from wherever they are.

Andy Fielder, Chief Technology Officer at BigHand, comments:

“Virtualisation has been a major focus for our clients for many years, and the number of people using BigHand in Citrix environments is still growing fast. Successful application or desktop virtualisation requires stable, reliable technology which is why our partnership with Citrix is so important to us.”