I have had the pleasure of testing this new version and i must say that it is an incredible client. This Receiver really brings some much needed functionality to the mobile device platform. And though i am a big fan of the iPhone i really hope Citrix will manage to bring this level of functionality and features to the other emerging mobile device platforms like Android. Citrix has a tech preview out of their Android receiver it can be found here: http://community.citrix.com/display/xa/Citrix+Receiver+for+Android

Bringing it back on topic, the Receiver for iPhone has been out for quite some time now and have been downloaded more than 300.000 times. The receiver was a 1.0 up until now! With the release of version 2.0 i actually see a lot of cool features which will help make it a more usable platform for companies and organizations.

I have chosen to highlight a few of the new features:

Support for Multiple Accounts

This is a great feature and embraces the opportunity to also allow users access from more than organization or allow applications to be delivered from the Cloud.. or SaaS providers or what you will call it To support this there has also been implemented a search function to allow users to find the apps they need.

New interface

The new client has a completely different interface for applications, favorites, online help and much more. These are really great changes with an even more iPhonish look and feel, and more useful to users and better administrated by administrators.

Better Support for Citrix complementing technologies

With the new release and some from 1.0.3 there is now an integrated support for Access Gateway Standard, Advanced and Enterprise and of course Support for XenDesktop 4.

Usability improvements

There is a lot of improvements on the usability side of things, just to mention a few it is great to work with the options to Change the initial zoom value, hide status bar, change session resolution and one of the really cool features when working on the iPhone.. a “Caffeine option” a built in feature to help keep the screen active.

Another cool thing which i am a big fan as most who have read this blog will know.. SMS stuff.

2-factor support has been improved and revolutionized

Of course Citrix quickly added support for traditional tokens primarily the RSA tokens. But one of the cool new features, is support for SMS Based 2-factor solutions like SMS PASSCODE. I have written about SMS PASSCODE several times here, here, here and here. The integration allows for the users to log in securely into the company applications using 2-factors on their mobile devices without having to memorize the SMS based 2-factor code from an SMS and then type it into an application. It is based on a technology in which the SMS recieved on the mobile device contains a link which is allows sending the code into the Citrix Reciever application. I do not have a demo-site for this feature ready at the moment but i hope i will have one soon. Until then you can test the SMS PASSCODE solution here on their demo site.

More than i love the technology i love the convenient way in which users can access their applications.. POWER TO THE USERS! Power to convenience!

If you want more information have a look here at Chris Flecks blog post: http://community.citrix.com/display/ocb/2009/12/21/Feature+Rich+Citrix+Receiver+2.0+for+iPhone+is+in+the+App+Store

and on the matter of mobility Vinny Sosa did a blog post here: http://community.citrix.com/display/ocb/2009/12/11/Mobilizing+your+apps+-+Part+I+-+Session+Resolution

And of course keep up to date on the iphone receiver site here: http://community.citrix.com/display/xa/Citrix+Receiver+for+iPhone

Rene Vester

I was super happy to hear that SMS PASSCODE was nominated by the SC Magazine as a Security Innovator finalist and even more happy when i heard they had taken a fourth place in the Security Innovators Throwdown! Congratulations to SMSPASSCODE, it has been an incredible journey from when i first saw the product and to the mature state it has reached now. I still need to finish a review of their latest version 3.0, it will be here soon.

Some of the key features i want to point out to everyone even if you do not read the entire articles, why i like the SMS PASSCODE:

• Typically offers a higher level of security than traditional tokens
• A lot more convenient for the end-users
• Easier to administrate than the physical tokens
• No logistics, tokens back and forth
• Very low Total Cost of Ownership

Until i finish my review of version 3.0, if you guys want to learn more about SMS PASSCODE:

Website: www.smspasscode.com
Earlier review by me: Permanent Link to 2-factor authentication for Citrix, VPN and remote access in general using any 

And even better, if you want to try it out, have a look at this post: SMS PASSCODE launched a demo site

Or click here to go directly to their Demo-site: Demo site

Congratulations again to SMS PASSCODE for moving up in a really tough world

Rene Vester