Study Group Implements Wyse Technology Client Virtualization Solutions to Boost Education Delivery

Education Organization Extends Technology Refresh Cycle, Cuts Implementation Time and Reduces Energy Costs with Wyse

SAN JOSE, Calif. – 09/07/2009 - Wyse Technology, the global leader in thin computing and client virtualization, announced today that Australian-headquartered education provider, Study Group has implemented Wyse thin clients to support courses that help students worldwide improve their English, learn a vocation, and prepare for or undertake a university degree.

Study Group plans to install 700 Wyse V10L thin clients running Wyse ThinOS to support student learning across its Australian and New Zealand operations by the end of 2009, with deployment to its United States and United Kingdom operations to follow. As of June 2009, the organization had deployed 470 terminals.

Study Group provides university access and English language programs to more than 50,000 students per year from 120 countries. The organization runs a global network of specialist education counselors and nearly 200 university partnerships across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Its 28 regional offices support more than 3,000 agents worldwide.

The organization turned to Wyse to replace a 2,000-strong personal computer fleet that was ageing beyond the standard three-year replacement cycle and subject to increasing failure rates.

The Wyse terminals link to user desktop environments hosted in a virtualized infrastructure that runs across datacenters at campuses in several capital cities. “When the Wyse terminal is switched on and the user authenticated, the Wyse operating system retrieves the settings from the network and connects directly to the relevant virtual desktop,” said Craig Coleiro, IT Services Director, APAC, Study Group. “Once a user exits from their session, their data and settings are stored in the virtualized infrastructure. It all works seamlessly.”

This ensures students are given access to a standard operating environment comprising Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003.

The organization has been able to deploy the V10L thin clients much more quickly and easily than its previous hardware. “For traditional personal computers, it took us 45 minutes each to complete the imaging and other processes required to allow a user to start work,” said Coleiro. “With Wyse, it now takes just five minutes from opening the box to getting the terminal running.”

The organization is also expecting to reap considerable savings on its power bill thanks to the energy efficiency of the Wyse terminals. “We are finding the Wyse terminals run at around 14 watts per hour, as opposed to the 85 watts per hour consumed by traditional personal computers,” said Coleiro.

The smaller size of the Wyse thin clients relative to a personal computer is freeing up desk space for students and Study Group plans to secure even more real estate by placing the thin clients behind the screens on each desk.

The Wyse thin client component of the infrastructure will contribute to long-term savings in operating expenditure through lower administration and support costs and less downtime.

“We have been able to achieve 100 percent physical system uptime in the 12 months since we deployed Wyse,” said Coleiro. “We also expect to achieve capital expenditure reductions as the Wyse terminals should last at least two hardware refresh cycles, meaning we need to purchase new terminals in six years rather than three.”

“Study Group’s use of Wyse thin computing to lower costs, centralize and reduce management, accelerate deployment and cut risk shows the benefits that our technologies can deliver to organizations,” said Ward Nash, General Manager, APAC, Wyse Technology. “Their experience demonstrates the advantages that thin computing has over traditional personal computer-based environments. These advantages extend to ‘green’ benefits such as reduced cooling, quieter terminals and longer hardware replacement cycles.”

About Wyse Technology

Wyse Technology is the global leader in thin computing-based virtualization software and hardware solutions. Wyse and its strategic partners, including, Citrix®, CSC®, IBM®, Lenovo®, Microsoft®, Novell®, VMware® and others deliver the most innovative hardware, software, and services that optimize the benefits of cloud computing, virtualization and green IT. These thin computing solutions allow consumers, SMEs and large public and private enterprises to access high definition voice, data and video content they need, with optimized security, manageability, and user experience at a much lower total cost of ownership than other traditional end user devices, including PCs. Wyse has the largest global distribution network in the thin computing market through its partners and offices worldwide. Wyse was founded in 1981, and it is headquartered in San Jose, California, USA.

For more information, visit the Wyse website at http://www.wyse.com or call 1-800-GET-WYSE* All brands and names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders.