Corel acquires Awingu to accelerate its secure remote workspace offering

Q: What did Corel announce today? 

A: Corel announced that it has acquired Awingu, a provider of secure remote access technology for an undisclosed dollar amount. The combination of Awingu and Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) will give end users added flexibility and freedom they need to securely work from anywhere, at any time, on any device or OS.

With this acquisition, the Parallels RAS platform will provide application delivery through virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)/Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution that provides remote access to virtual applications and desktops through RAS, and “clientless” browser-based access to applications (legacy / SaaS apps) and desktops through Awingu

You can find more information in the news release we issued this morning here:

Corel Acquires Awingu to Accelerate Its Secure Remote Workspace Offering

Q: What can you tell us about the deal?  

A: This was an all-cash transaction.  Awingu will become part of Corel.

Q: Who is Awingu and what do they do? 

A: Awingu provides secure remote access technology and has been named a Gartner Cool Vendor. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium.

Unlike most solutions in the market, Awingu does not require agents on the server or software to be installed on end-user devices. Awingu runs entirely in the browser, where it aggregates all company files and applications, including SaaS and legacy Windows or Linux applications into one online workspace with one login. This ease of use and simplified deployment enables customers to deploy Awingu in hours, empowering IT departments of all sizes to enable secure remote workspaces for their end-users.

Awingu is available in over 20 countries. The company partners with organizations like Microsoft, Blackberry, and Barracuda and works with customers like the Port of Antwerp, Peloton, UDLAP University, and ConvergeOne.

Q: Will Awingu merge into Corel or will they maintain independence? 

A: Awingu will become part of the Parallels brand portfolio.  

Q: Will Parallels RAS and Awingu still offer separate products? Will they offer a joint solution?

A: Both Awingu and Parallels products will be offered to deliver secure remote workspaces to customers. Additionally, Awingu will integrate with Parallels to accelerate innovation and provide a unified capability for secure remote access to both legacy and cloud-native applications.

Q: Will Awingu change its name?

A: Awingu will be part of the Parallels brand portfolio, but its official name has yet to be determined. The appropriate timing for announcing a name change will be determined as part of the integration process.

Q: How does the addition of Awingu impact the overall Corel business?

A: The combination of Parallels RAS and Awingu is a logical and natural step in our commitment to helping organizations give their employees the flexibility and freedom to securely work from anywhere, at any time, on any OS or device. This technology acquisition will make the Parallels RAS platform a one-stop solution giving customers the ability to easily access legacy and cloud-native applications, while alleviating the worry of data security and infrastructure complexity from IT teams.

Q: What does the acquisition of Awingu mean to a customer or partner?

A: Parallels RAS and Awingu have complementary feature sets that address different use cases for partners and customers. Through the acquisition of Awingu, we will have an expanded set of offerings to help partners and customers tackle a variety of use cases in the VDI/DaaS market.

Q: Will Awingu continue to sell its offerings?

A: Yes, Awingu will continue to sell its offerings to both existing and new customers.

Q: Will any products be eliminated or phased out as a result of the acquisition?

A: No.

Q: What new products will be available as a result of the acquisition?

A: After the acquisition, Awingu will integrate with Parallels to accelerate innovation and provide a unified capability for secure remote access to both legacy and cloud-native applications. 

Q: When will the new unified products be available?

A: Currently, we do not have a public roadmap to share.  

Q: Should I continue with my current implementation of Parallels RAS?

A: Yes, you should continue with your current implementation.  

Q: Should I continue with my implementation of Awingu?

A: Yes, you should continue with your current implementation.  

Q: As an Awingu customer, will I need to sign a new deal with Corel?

A: Awingu will continue to provide services to you under the terms (including pricing) of your existing contract. We also plan to accelerate innovation and provide a unified capability for secure remote access to both legacy and cloud-native applications. 

Q: Who do I contact for account inquiries or to learn more about the acquisition?

A: You should continue to work with your existing Awingu or Corel account representative.

Q: Who do I contact for customer support inquiries? 

A: Parallels customers should work with existing support channels. Awingu customers should work with existing support channels.