By samdizzy

Microsoft is promoting six desktop as a service (DaaS) partners to VARs and private cloud builders in Toronto this week. The DaaS effort, part of Microsoft’s broader hosting and cloud partner ecosystem, surfaced at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2012. (WPC12).

DaaS, or virtual desktop integration (VDI), typically allows users to access their business desktops from any device — a smartphone, tablet, notebook or PC. The business “desktops” are typically hosted on-premise or in a public cloud server. But the Windows DaaS and VDI markets have faced some stumbling blocks in recent years, as hosting providers and cloud services providers (CSPs) struggled to master the technology and Microsoft’s licensing policies.

Still, take a look at this week’s WPC agenda and you’ll see six key partners on the DaaS front — AppRiver, Citrix Systems, Horizon Private Cloud, nGenX, Nivio and OBT Anywhere. nGenX is particularly interesting. The company also partners with Google, allowing Google Chromebook and Chromebox users to access/run Windows applications if they so choose. (Google Chromebooks and Chromeboxes are cloud-centrix notebooks and PCs that run Google’s Chrome OS operating system, Google Apps and other cloud services.

The big question: Will Microsoft make it much easier for channel partners to offer DaaS and VDI services when Windows 8 launches in October 2012? Talkin’ Cloud is checking.