Google & Parallels to bring Windows apps to Chrome Enterprise

Google Chrome Enterprise users will soon be able to use fully-featured Windows applications such as Microsoft Office on their Chromebooks – a change expected to take effect later this year.

Google and technology partner Parallels will roll out 'legacy application support' and Windows applications, announced Chrome OS VP John Soloman this week.

Further information from Parallels points to the growth in remote working, which requires new capabilities to assist with connectivity, efficiency, reliability, security, and speed.

"At this key moment, our two organisations have formed a landmark partnership to equip enterprises with solutions that optimise their businesses and teams to meet the evolving challenges of modern work environments," Parallels states.

Parallels adds that its partnership with Google will allow Chrome Enterprise users to:

• "Add full-featured Windows apps, including Microsoft Office, to Chromebook Enterprise devices
• Enable efficient, productive and collaborative work anytime from anywhere
• Eliminate additional hardware costs and minimise total cost of ownership (TCO)."

While neither Google nor Parallels are saying much more about the partnership, they do say that this is a new way to "make sure every company can benefit from the velocity created by supporting a cloud workforce".

Chrome Enterprise capabilities were first introduced in 2017 as a means of bringing critical enterprise features like fleet management and advanced security protections to the Chromebook line.

In 2019, the company deployed the first Chromebook Enterprise devices – the Dell Latitude 5400 and Dell Latitude 5300 2-in-1 Chromebook Enterprise.

Google has also added Chromebook Enterprise devices from vendors including ASUS, HP, and Samsung.

"The core of our business is to help customers digitally transform and our enterprise customers have asked for more choice in how they do that," commented Dell Technologies commercial client product group vice president Rahul Tikoo, when the announcement was made last year.

"Partnering with Google to launch the first Dell Latitude Chromebook Enterprise offers customers that choice, plus the speed, security and ease of use that enterprises need."

Organisations already using a Chromebook fleet that do not already have Chrome Enterprise can get the same enterprise capabilities through Chrome Enterprise Upgrade.

Google and Parallels will release more information about further capabilities on Chrome Enterprise as they become available.

Parallels specialises in cross-platform solutions, enabling customers to use and access the applications and files they need on any device or operating system. The company develops solutions for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chromebook, Linux, and the cloud.

Parallels is also part of the Corel Corporation, alongside brands including CorelDRAW, WinZip, ClearSlide, and MindManager.