RehabCare Group provides rehabilitation program management services for more than 1,200 facilities across the United States. The three IT staffers in the company’s Client Technology Services group found it challenging to efficiently manage its 150 applications and 2,500 desktop and laptop computers, while supporting a large mobile work force. By switching to virtualization using Microsoft® Application Virtualization and System Center Configuration Manager, RehabCare cut the time for large-scale deployments of new applications from weeks to less than one day, delivered application updates 80 percent faster for a savings of 1,200 IT staff hours per year, improved asset tracking, and enhanced reliability and service for widely dispersed employees. Just as important, it increased end-user productivity, freeing therapists to focus on patient care instead of software installations.

Turkcell, a leading mobile communications provider, is deploying the Windows® 7 operating system to 5,000 computers. Once deployed, Turkcell expects to lower support by 20 percent and to improve user productivity by 830 hours weekly. Turkcell also anticipates improved network security.

Allen Matkins, a California-based law firm, wanted to improve the technology tools that it provides to its attorneys while retaining the ability to use older applications. The firm opted to upgrade to the Windows® 7 operating system and adopt Microsoft® Application Virtualization technology. Allen Matkins expects its new operating environment to help conserve costs and help attorneys deliver more timely service to clients for a competitive advantage.

Based in Basel, Switzerland, F. Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) is a leader in researched-focused healthcare. As part of its strategic IT plan to simplify its computing environment, the company upgraded users’ computers to the Windows® 7 operating system. As a result, Roche is benefiting from enhanced IT security, streamlined IT management, increased system performance, and an improved user experience.

Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) promotes the latest technology to ensure students’ readiness for the work world. In addition, the institute wanted to extend the life of its desktop hardware, so it adopted the Windows® 7 operating system. With Windows 7, Wintec staff and students can be more productive, thanks to an improved user experience. Plus, Wintec will delay retiring at least 200 computers, saving upwards of U.S $225,000.

Gassco is responsible for operating the Norwegian gas transport system on behalf of joint ventures and companies in Europe. In an effort to improve employee productivity and simplify management of its aging IT infrastructure, the company upgraded to the Windows® 7 operating system. As a result of the upgrade, Gassco has increased employee productivity with improved system performance, enhanced IT security, and simplified IT management.

Offering a variety of academic programs in the arts and sciences and professional fields, the University of Pittsburgh has 12,000 faculty and staff members serving more than 34,000 students. The university’s Computing Services and Systems Development (CSSD) department has just five IT staffers who support 1,000 computers and more than 100 applications for student computing labs. It needed to streamline and accelerate application deployment, and be more responsive to faculty needs. Using Microsoft® Application Virtualization, CSSD cut the time needed to deploy each application from 40 or 50 hours to just 5 hours, reduced the time required to deliver software updates and upgrades, and enabled multiple versions of an application to run on a single computer. The IT staff now can respond to faculty requests for new applications without having to wait until the summer to implement them.

Softvision helps companies take advantage of the latest technologies, so it was only natural that the firm gain experience by upgrading its own desktop computers to the Windows® 7 operating system as soon as it was available. The firm enjoys the new operating system’s enhanced security features and streamlined management, and users have experienced increased productivity due to improvements such as federated search and screen management capabilities.

Altaven wanted to create a Web-based version of its corporate tax software to satisfy customer demand. To ensure that the company was developing an effective solution, it took advantage of the Microsoft® Technology Center to validate the use of an architecture that relies on Windows Server® 2008 Terminal Services. With the solution, it was able to add Web support and a host of other features to the product in time to meet an aggressive launch date.

Dell, while known for excellent computing hardware, also offers technology services to help companies meet user needs. Dell developed a sequencing service for companies that use Microsoft® Application Virtualization, part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack. With the service, companies can get virtualization applications ready within 72 hours and at predictable costs that are 50 percent of the price charged for other methods.