| Software lets Windows devices control desktops, servers |
Feb. 01, 2008
 Rove Mobile has introduced software said to let Windows Mobile phones control desktop PCs remotely, with intelligent scaling and panning that makes their entire screens viewable. PCMobilizr works even if the desktop is behind a firewall or home router, according to the company.
(Click here for a larger view of the PCMobilizr login screen)
PCMobilizr is based on the cross-platform, open-source Virtual Network Computing (VNC protocol), originally developed at AT&T's Cambridge Laboratory in the UK. Sort of like Microsoft's RDP (remote desktop protocol), VNC allows access to a PC's entire graphical desktop, rather than to just one application at a time, as with the X Window system, SSH tunnels, and other remote access systems.
Open source and commercial VNC clients are servers are available for just about every version of every OS ever written, including Linux, BSD, Mac OS 7-9 and X, and every desktop and server Windows OS flavor. VNC has been available for Windows CE or Windows Mobile under various guises in the past, including .NET VNC. Remote control solutions for Windows include Logmein, GoToMyPC, and Laplink Anywhere.
Rove says that most VNC-based products focus on providing remote access from one PC to another. A few aim to offer remote access from a PC to a smartphone. PCMobilzr is said to work in the other direction, enabling mobile device users to access files, applications, programs, and network resources on the PC.
PCMobilizr includes client software, a PC agent, and Internet-based routing services
Typically, with VNC, it can be difficult for a remote device to reach a desktop if -- as usual -- the PC is behind a home router or a firewall. Not only must the PC's IP address be known, but a router at the remote facility must be configured to forward the TCP ports used by VNC (FAQ) -- 5800, 5801, 5900, and 5901 are the well-known ports for VNC, although others can be configured.
Not unlike Logmein and GoToMyPC, PCMobilizr gets around the problem of port-forwarding by using a special VNC server on the remote PC. Instead of simply listening on well-known or specially configured VNC ports, the server actively maintains a persistent 256-bit SSL-encrypted HTTPS connection to a remote PCMobilizr routing service. Since the connection originates on the LAN side, the firewall allows it to pass, probably on port 443 on the way out, and on some much higher port on the way back in. The mobile client also connects to the PCMobilizr routing service, and from there is routed to the remote PC over the existing HTTPS session.
PCMobilizr could in theory allow customer support engineers to use their mobile devices to fix problems on remote PCs. They'd ask the customer to download, install, and launch the special server, which is probably free, and then connect to the remote PC using the PCMobilizr client running on their mobile phone. However, the video below suggests the company plans to position the product more as a solution for consumers simply wishing to remotely access and control their home PCs.
PCMobilizr was demonstrated at last month's DEMO Conference
(click to play)
Source: Rove Mobile
Availability
PCMobilizr is available now for Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0 devices, and the desktop agent software supports Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003. Macintosh OS X support is also planned.
PCMobilizr is offered as a service, priced at $9.50 per month.
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