Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 SP1 is now available!

Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) enables you to transform applications into centrally managed virtual services to reduce the cost of application deployment, eliminate application conflicts and reboots, simplify your base image footprint to expedite PC provisioning, and increase user productivity. App-V 4.5 SP1 offers the following new capabilities and unique integration with Windows 7:

• Seamless user experience regardless of application format. App-V users can pin virtual applications to the taskbar and leverage jumplists for navigation to maintain user productivity.
• Increase IT control with AppLocker integration. Enforce compliance of App-V virtual applications to provide consistent policy management for all application types.
• Make users productive anywhere and save on IT infrastructure using BranchCache. Virtual applications traverse the WAN only once and are available to users more quickly, eliminating the need for an IIS Server in every branch.
• Secure applications on removable devices with BitLockerToGo and stream virtual applications from USB. Allow only authorized users, including remote disconnected users, access to the virtual applications.
• Integrate with third-party LDAP directories to reduce administrative overhead when user accounts are maintained in these directories.

App-V 4.5 SP1 can be deployed immediately to production environments running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 32-bit platforms. Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 SP1 is available as part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack and Microsoft Application Virtualization for Terminal Services, and via MSDN.

Customers preparing to run App-V on 64-bit Windows Client and Server platforms can download App-V 4.6 Beta at Microsoft Connect. App-V 4.6 will be available in H1 2010.