There are currently two key drivers for server-based computing -- digital independence (any device accessing any application and across any network) which leads to the four benefits of manageability -- network/infrastructure manageability, access, performance and security.

While the company's flagship product -- Citrix Metaframe -- is already popular in the markets (80 per cent of ASPs will use Citrix technology as per a Gartner survey) as the key integrating layer to facilitate server-based computing, Citrix is all set to go strong on a number of new technologies for enabling more services/functions.

The recently launched nFuse technology is available free of charge with Metaframe and is aimed at enabling the delivery of applications to the work place by configuring default pages for specific functions and also offers conditional access functions.

Citrix Extranet 2.0 is another technology that builds VPN (Virtual Private Network) and fire-wall capabilities into the server-based environment. Also on the cards is technology that is aimed at `Webifying' applications working on the server-based environment. The product is expected to hit the market by early 2001. Technologies for services like load balancing, optimisation, etc, are also in the pipeline.

Speaking with The Financial Express, Citrix Software Ltd managing director, Mr Dinesh Puri said, ``Our strategy is to make server-based computing possible across all networks and devices. While typically products like Thin Clients are used for server-based computing, we are looking at enabling both thin and fat (PCs) computing devices to perform equally well in the environment.'' The models of computing had seen significant changes and shifts, moving from mainframes to client server model (2 tier model), client server model (3 tier) and now server-based computing and Citrix was focused on building and enabling the architecture for the model, Mr Puri added.On the market front, Citrix is targeting the enterprise, call centre and the horizontal markets to popularise its technologies and the computing model.

The company is also set to initiate the Citrix Authorised Learning Center program to offer two courses at IT training centres -- CCA (Citrix Certified Administrator) and CCSE (Citrix Certifies Systems Engineer). The courses are expected to go on stream by mid-December. Citrix was aiming big at tapping the fast growing ASP market in India and across the world, Mr Puri said.