OnLive, best known for their cloud-based gaming service, has announced something new and exciting – a free cloud-based Windows 7 client for the iPad, allowing you to run Windows 7 and use full versions of Microsoft Office apps under iOS.
I’ve been keeping my eye on OnLive for quite some time hoping something like this would arise – it’s really a pretty exciting moment. OnLive’s app will be similar to the CloudOn app released about a week ago, but will be far more capable.
GigaOm provides the following details:
Since applications are running on high-end computing clusters in OnLive’s data centers, the only thing holding back performance is the network. Which means that in today’s world of pervasive broadband connectivity, Windows applications running on an iPad could potentially be faster than those running on a standard Windows 7 laptop.
OnLive is making the Desktop app available in a freemium model through which users will get 2GB worth of cloud storage and the ability to use Windows 7 applications such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint, as well as other utilities and games. Documents can be stored in the cloud and accessed from any device with a web interface. In the near future, OnLive expects to launch Onlive Desktop Pro, a more robust service that will offer up 50 GB of storage, priority access, additional apps and other features for $9.99 a month. It also promises collaboration features for enterprise users such as sharing documents or working on virtual whiteboards.
I wasn’t able to get a hands-on from OnLive while attending the CES media event at which it was announced, but hope to meet with OnLive later this week to get a closer look. As always, I’ll keep you posted.
OnLive Desktop for iPad will be free in the App Store, and will be available this Thursday in the U.S. Check out the below video from Engadget to see it in action!