VMware View for Android lands on Market

In addition to an updated iPad app, VMware has also announced today that the Android version of their mobile View client is officially available for public consumption. Until now, the Android client had only been available as a tech preview.

“Whether you are using a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 or 10.1, an LG/T-mobile G-Slate, a Motorola Xoom or any of the other newly available Honeycomb-based Android tablets or the Cisco Cius, you can get the most of your View desktop on the Android tablet you choose.”

Available as a free download in the Android Market, the VMware View for Android client allows you to access a Windows-based virtual machine running in the VMware View 4.6 (or later) desktop software over WiFi or 3G.

Much of the look and feel of the Android client mirrors the recently updated iPad version. The client supports multitasking, (allowing you to switch to another Android app without losing your current session), and the majority of other features including quick connect VM list, an overall similar UI, embedded RSA soft tokens, and support for the PCoIP display protocol.

The app currently includes support for German, French, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese languages, as well as local input mode as explained below:

“When working multi-byte Asian languages, local input mode enables you to type in full lines of complete multi-byte words and then send them to your View desktop.”

While there does appear to be support for bluetooth keyboards and mice, users are reporting major issues with Android 3.1+ tablets. There’s no mention of any type of external display support (like that announced for the iPad client using AirPlay) on the Market, however we expect phones that support HDMI to work just fine (as with past iOS versions). Although their isn’t an iPhone client, users report the Android app is working on some phones, but the UI is clearly optimized for tablets. You can head over to the Android Market now and grab VMware View for Android (1.2).