Educational software company leverages ThinApp to offer the richness of Windows-based software and the convenience of web-based user access.

VMware, Inc., a provider of virtualization solutions from the desktop to the datacenter, today announced that ChildPlus Software, a provider of program-management software, is using VMware ThinApp to make its Windows-based ChildPlus.net software accessible via the Internet. The company says that ChildPlus' software is used by head start programs that serve children also.

It explains that ChildPlus provides program-management software to the charities, community action groups, county governments, and faith-based organizations that run head start programs in the United States. The company adds that before adopting VMware ThinApp, ChildPlus faced a significant business challenge that was affecting its market penetration. It claims that prior to selecting VMware ThinApp, ChildPlus considered virtualization options from Microsoft and other companies. However, ChildPlus found no other solution that could match its reliability, ease-of-use, and performance. In fact, customer calls to the ChildPlus helpdesk have dropped due to the usability made possible by ThinApp, it avers.

''ThinApp solved a huge business problem for us and has given us an enormous competitive advantage,'' said David McMurrain, President of ChildPlus Software. ''Our Windows-based software is literally years ahead of our competitors. But, many Head Start programs are unable to devote extensive IT resources to managing a client/server solution. So, we simply wrap our Windows-based client in ThinApp. Our customers can download it from our website and run it running with a few mouse clicks. They don't have to worry about software updates, patches, version control or any other desktop headaches.''

Jim Clark, Director of software development at ChildPlus, added, ''If we had been forced to scrap our Windows solution, it would've taken two years to create a web product from scratch and it would have cost millions of dollars. Even then, there's no way a web product would be as feature-rich or robust as ChildPlus.net. I can't overstate the value of VMware ThinApp. It's been a critical factor in our sustained leadership in our market segment.''

Andy Nigro, Director of new product development and marketing at ChildPlus, commented, ''We have a big responsibility. We serve over one-third of all Head Start agencies in the country. VMware ThinApp has enabled us to provide a solution that meets the needs of the people who work with the kids as well as the people who have to keep the lights on. ChildPlus.net saves a typical Head Start agency thousands of hours each year, which allows the agencies to spend more time and resources on the children who need their support. The bottom line is that our relationship with VMware has been a big win for us and our customers.''