Desktop apps on mobile remain 'niche'

update While it has been touted as a godsend for the mobile warrior, the ability to run desktop apps on mobiles will be limited to niche aspects of the market, according to analysts.

Virtualization software maker, Citrix, recently demonstrated its Citrix Receiver software for the Android platform, which will allow Windows desktop applications to run on such devices. It currently has a version available on the iPhone, as well.

However, two analysts were decidedly lukewarm about its prospects when asked about the software's appeal to enterprise users.

Bryan Wang, director, Asia-Pacific connectivity research at Springboard Research, told ZDNet Asia: "I do not see [the application] being a huge part of the market. A segment can definitely be targeted, but [this is] more of a niche segment."

He said the application would likely be a "stop-gap" for users till native applications which can perform similar functions to the desktop apps are written for the devices.

If user demand for desktop-styled apps is high on the mobile, sparking more demand for the Receiver software, this will also translate to more apps developed for the mobile, he explained. "The need for an app like [the Citrix Receiver] will diminish over time as the functionality is built into [mobile] apps...if mobility is key."

Canalys senior analyst Daryl Chiam, too said running desktop apps on mobiles is a niche market, appealing to specific user groups which need particular apps provided by their companies.

Outside of such apps, e-mail tops the list of popular apps for mobiles--which these phones can handle, he said.

As for popular applications which users want to carry with them, they will most likely be developed natively, Chiam said.

Using Facebook as an example, he said the different versions of its app for the various mobile platforms points to demand for customized user experience on native apps. A one-size-fits-all app would not be able to fully utilize all of a platform's user interface controls.

He said another issue hampering the effectiveness of making desktop apps mobile is the screen size of the devices. Many users will not be able to work for a long time on a word processor within a mobile device, he added.

Patrick Chan, chief technology advisor of emerging technologies at IDC Asia-Pacific, was more optimistic of the software's appeal. He said while screen size remains an issue, interactive touch features on the iPhone and Android platforms are expected to help improve user experience.

Chan added that applications delivered over the Web via the Receiver's virtualization technology, allow phones to overcome the device's limitations of running desktop apps on limited resources, by relying on a company's more powerful backend systems.

"Applications for broader audiences such as administrators and office workers are now possible [on mobile devices] and more will begin to use these as development on mobile platforms accelerate," he said, but added that for now, consumers will still choose simplified apps on mobiles over enterprise desktop apps piped to their phones.

Wang highlighted security as another chief concern. With additional entry points into the enterprise network, IT administrators would want to have the ability to lock down the device in the event of it getting misplaced, he said.

Citrix Labs senior manager of strategic services, Adam Jaques, assured users of the device's security precautions. He said its installation on devices would not require additional safeguards from administrators because it supports SSL encryption and two-factor authentication.

He told ZDNet Asia the Receiver app will also be able to use company-issued VPN clients on users' Android or iPhone devices.

Citrix has had "very encouraging" numbers of iPhone downloads and expects "strong uptake" of Android devices as handset manufacturers step up device releases, he said.