Parallels Access remote is now available on iPhone and Android
As one of the best-known remote-desktop clients for the iPad, Parallels Access has now expanded into the iPhone and Android space with Parallels Access 2.0.
Described by Parallels president Yakov “Jack” Zubarev as “the most reliable way to to remotely access all Windows and Mac applications from your phone or tablet,” apps accessed via Parallels Access should provide the same experience as a desktop computer — only on a smaller screen and using the taps, swipes and pinch-to-zoom gestures you’re used to dealing with on mobile.
Version 2.0 of the app additionally adds the ability to switch screen resolutions, to wake up a remote computer from sleep, and register or login using a connected Facebook account. There’s also a new file browser that offers access to files stored on a target computer, and the option of accepting inputs from a controlling device’s microphone, which makes for an appreciated inclusion when you’re dealing with smartphones with limited screen real estate.
Available in the iOS App Store and on Google Play with a free two-week trial, subscriptions to the service cost $19.99 for one year, or $29.99 for two years — giving users the ability to access up to five remote computers from an unlimited number of iOS and Android devices.
To help distinguish it from its marketplace rivals, Parallels has added Parallels Access for Business, which lets admins manage accounts for their users. Subscriptions start at $49.99 per year for five computers, although businesses can sign up for a trial that lets them add an unlimited number of computers and users for free, until July 31, when they’ll need to switch to a paid subscription.