VMware has announced the availability of VMware's ThinApp 4.5 application virtualization solution. It enables faster adoption of Microsoft Windows 7 in the enterprise by providing compatibility for legacy and custom applications across multiple Windows operating system environments.

VMware ThinApp 4.5, announced Wednesday, is designed to reduce the amount of coding and testing needed to move applications to a new operating system while minimizing risk of downtime, VMware says.

Like most industry players, VMware is expecting Windows 7 to drive increasing virtualization of desktops and applications. Moving legacy apps to the new operating system will be difficult, and customers "are looking to use application virtualization to migrate or simplify the migration of existing applications to Windows 7," says Raj Mallempati, director of desktop product marketing for VMware.

VMware ThinApp Application virtualization software isolates applications from the operating environment, increasing compatibility and manageability across multiple operating systems common in the enterprise. By enabling enterprises to manage and deliver applications from a central source, VMware ThinApp streamlines application security, updates, patches and performance while delivering applications instantly to nearly any device. Enterprises considering upgrading to Windows 7 can avoid the costly process of recoding, retesting and recertifying existing applications on the new operating systems through application virtualization on VMware ThinApp.

VMware ThinApp 4.5 is available through VMware sales and OEM partners and channel partners. VMware ThinApp Suite is priced at $5000.00. VMware ThinApp is also bundled in View Premier for $250 per concurrent user.