Citrix, a provider of application virtualization and delivery, is developing a receiver for the iPhone that will enable Windows applications to run on the Apple handset. Known as Project Braeburn, the receiver development would allow Windows-based applications to be hosted on the company’s XenApp platform–in the cloud–and delivered to the iPhone only when in use.
Citrix says that the iPhone client will enable Windows apps to adapt to the advanced hardware and software in the handset. In a nutshell, Windows applications will have added support for touchscreen controls like multi-touch gestures, the accelerometer and other features not typically integrated with Windows-based applications.
While there is no specific timeline for release at the moment, Citrix says that a version 1.0 release should be available from the app store within the first half of 2009. New features will be added as community feedback dictates. Citrix has also set up a community forum for Project Braeburn where the company is currently discussing use cases of apps that won’t run natively on the iPhone but could if hosted in the cloud. For example, the iPhone doesn’t currently support Flash but may support a virtualized Flash app.
This is an interesting project, but I can’t help but wonder: what is the demand for Windows-based apps on the iPhone?
Whatever the case may be, you can check out a demo below.
