Parallels (company)

American software company

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Parallels International GmbH

Company type| Subsidiary
Industry| Virtualization
Genre| Virtualization and Hosting Automation
Founded| 1999; 26 years ago (1999)
Founders|

* Serg Bell

Headquarters| Bellevue, Washington, United States[1]
Products| Parallels Desktop for Mac
Parallels RAS
Parallels Toolbox
Parallels Access
Revenue| US$100 million (2008)[2]

Number of employees

| 800+[3]
Parent| Alludo

Parallels International GmbH is a software company based in Bellevue, Washington. It is involved in the development of virtualization software for MacOS. The company has over 800 employees and offices in 14 countries, including the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Japan, China, Spain, Malta, Australia, and Mauritius[4][5][3]

## History

[edit]

SWSoft, a privately held server automation and virtualization software company, developed software for running data centers, particularly for web-hosting service companies and application service providers.[6] Their Virtuozzo product was an early system-level server virtualization technology, in 2003, they acquired Plesk, a commercial web hosting platform.[7]

SWSoft acquired Parallels, Inc. in 2004, but this information was not made public until January 2007.[8] Parallels Workstation for Windows and Linux 2.0[9] was released in the same year, with Parallels Desktop for Mac following in mid-2006.[10] Later the same year, the corporate headquarters moved from Herndon, Virginia, to Renton, Washington. Historically, their primary development labs were in Moscow and Novosibirsk, Russia. Parallels was founded by Serg Bell, who was born in the former Soviet Union and later immigrated to Singapore.

At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference 2007 in San Francisco, California, Parallels announced and demonstrated its upcoming Parallels Server for Mac.[11] Parallels Server for Mac allows IT managers to run multiple server operating systems on a single Mac Xserve.[12][13]

In 2007, there were reports of a lawsuit by the German company Netsys GmbH against Parallels' German distributor Avanquest for alleged copyright violation.[14] Parallels Server for Mac was announced at WWDC, and later Parallels Technology Network.[15]

In 2008, SWSoft merged with Parallels to become one company under the Parallels branding,[16] which then acquired ModernGigabyte, LLC.[17][18] Parallels Server for Mac was launched in June,[19] then in September Parallels Desktop 4 for Windows and Linux, a rename of Parallels Workstation for the 4.0 release,[20] and Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac[21] later that year. In the next version, 6.0, the Windows and Linux software became known as Parallels Workstation again.

From 2009 to 2011, the company launched Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac,[22] Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac,[23] Parallels Server for Mac 4.0 Mac mini edition,[24] Parallels Transporter,[25] Parallels Workstation 6 Extreme,[26] Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac,[27] Parallels Mobile for iOS,[28] and Parallels Workstation 6.[29]

During 2012, 2013 and 2014, the company discontinued Parallels Server for Mac, Windows and Linux, launched Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac and Mac Management for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager, and released Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac.

Parallels acquired 2X Software in February 2015,[30] rebranded their service provider business to Odin,[31] later sold the Odin Service Automation Platform to Ingram Micro.[32] They also released Parallels Mac Management v4.0 for Microsoft SCCM and Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac.

In 2017, Virtuozzo and Plesk, two products from the pre-Parallels history of SWSoft, were spun out.[33][34]

In December 2018, Corel announced that it had acquired Parallels.[35][36]

On October 20, 2020, it was announced that Google had partnered with Parallels to bring Windows applications to enterprises and cloud workers using Chrome Enterprise.[37][38]

On February 17, 2023, Microsoft announced a partnership with Parallels to enable Windows 11 support on Mac computers with M-Series processors using Parallels Desktop 18.[39][40]

On January 30, 2024, the company announced the new product Parallels DaaS.[41]

## Products

[edit]

* Parallels Desktop for Mac – an x86 and ARM virtualization platform for macOS.
* Parallels RAS – an application virtualization program allowing Windows applications to be accessed via individual devices from a shared server or cloud system.[42]
* Parallels Toolbox – a productivity suite for Windows and macOS.[43]
* Parallels Access – was a remote desktop platform allowing iOS and Android devices to connect to Windows and macOS devices, which was sunset on April 30, 2024.[44][45]
* Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS – a Windows virtualization platform for ChromeOS.[37]
* Parallels Desktop as a Service – a cloud-native, Desktop as a service solution that offers users secure, instant access to their virtual applications and desktop environments.[46]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Worldwide Operations HQ". www.parallels.com. Archived from the original on 2008-10-28. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
2. ^ "Parallels CEO Sees IPO in a Few Years, Not an Acquisition". Bloomberg News. 6 July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
3. ^ a b "Career Opportunities". Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
4. ^ Staff Writer (10 June 2022). "COREL sets up centre of excellence in Mauritius, gears up to collaborate with academic institutions | Platform Africa". Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
5. ^ "Employment and training: Collaboration between Corel Corporation and Polytechnics Mauritius". Mauritius News. 2022-05-30. Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
6. ^ "SWsoft Renames Itself "Parallels"". ZDNET. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
7. ^ "Web Hosting News : SWsoft Acquires Plesk and Confixx to Create Global Hosting Software Powerhouse". HostReview. 2003-06-10. Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
8. ^ Cheng, Jacqui (22 January 2007). "Parallels acknowledges SWsoft ownership". ARS Technica. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
9. ^ Rudolf, Ben (2005-12-08). "Parallels Announces the General Availability of Workstation 2.0 for $49 per License; Includes Full Support for Intel® Virtualization Technology". Parallels. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006.
10. ^ Rudolf, Benjamin (2006-06-15). "Computer Users Can Simultaneously Run Mac OS, Windows, Linux Programs with Parallels Desktop for Mac". Parallels. Archived from the original on February 18, 2007.
11. ^ Marshall, David (June 16, 2007) [04:03 PM]. "InfoWorld Virtualization Report | David Marshall | InfoWorld | Parallels Announces Features of its Mac Server Virtualization Product". Archived from the original on 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
12. ^ "Parallels demos Mac server virtualization". Computer World. Archived from the original on 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
13. ^ "Parallels Desktop 19 for Mac". Parallels. Archived from the original on 2008-10-11. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
14. ^ "Parallels accused of violating WINE license – virtualization.info". Retrieved 2025-04-11.
15. ^ Cohen, Peter (2007-04-26). "Parallels Technology Network announced". Computer World. Archived from the original on 2007-11-23.
16. ^ Marshall, David (January 29, 2008) [08:03 PM]. "InfoWorld Virtualization Report | David Marshall | InfoWorld | Parallels Announces Virtuozzo Containers 4.0". Archived from the original on February 2, 2008.
17. ^ "Web Host Industry News | Parallels Acquires ModernGigabyte". Web Hosting Talk. Archived from the original on 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
18. ^ "Parallels.com | Parallels Acquires ModernGigabyte". Parallels. Archived from the original on 2008-05-11.
19. ^ Marshall, David (June 18, 2008) [08:14 AM]. "Virtualization Report | David Marshall | InfoWorld | Parallels announces the first Mac server virtualization platform". Archived from the original on June 19, 2008.
20. ^ "Desktop 4 for Windows and Linux Leverages Industry-Leading Mac Technology to Enable Widespread Adoption of PC Virtualization". Parallels. 2009-09-01. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
21. ^ "Desktop 4.0 for Mac Offers Premium Windows-on-Mac Experience". Parallels. Archived from the original on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
22. ^ "Desktop 5 for Mac Offers Fastest Performance on Snow Leopard and for Windows 7 Available". Parallels. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
23. ^ "Desktop 6 for Mac Delivers Unprecedented New and Enhanced Features for Best Windows on Mac Experience Yet". Parallels. Archived from the original on 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
24. ^ "Server for Mac 4.0 Mac mini Edition Launch Lets Businesses Run Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and Linux Environments Side-by-Side on an Apple Mac mini". Parallels. 2011-05-11. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
25. ^ "Transporter Launches on the Mac App Store, Makes the Move from a PC to a Mac Easy". Parallels. 2011-05-18. Archived from the original on 2013-04-10. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
26. ^ "Workstation 6 Extreme makes the consolidated professional graphics workstation a reality through unmatched performance of direct assignment technology". Parallels. 2011-08-09. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
27. ^ "Desktop 7 for Mac Makes Windows Programs Roar with Mac OS X Lion Features; New Parallels Mobile App Delivers OS X and Windows Control Plus Flash Videos with Sound". Parallels. Archived from the original on 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
28. ^ "New Parallels Mobile App for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch Delivers Anytime Anywhere Control of Mac OS X, Windows, Ubuntu, Chrome, Fedora, Applications and Files on Your Mac". Parallels. 2011-09-01. Archived from the original on 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
29. ^ "Workstation 6 Gives Web Designers and IT Professionals Seamless Capabilities for Running Multiple Operating Systems – Including Windows 8 – on a Single PC". Parallels. 2011-11-08. Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
30. ^ Madden, Brian (2015-02-26). "Parallels Buys 2X Software". brianmadden.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-09. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
31. ^ "We've Changed Our Name – Parallels Service Provider Business is Now Odin". blog.odin.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-26. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
32. ^ "Parallels Holdings Limited Announces the Sale of its Odin Service Automation Platform to Ingram Micro". www.odin.com. December 2, 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
33. ^ Sharwood, Simon (2016-05-12). "Virtuozzo to build full container stack, target the data centre". The Register. Archived from the original on 2017-08-06. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
34. ^ "Home". www.odin.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
35. ^ Bonuccelli, Giorgio (15 February 2017). "CIOReview Magazine Praises Parallels: One of the "20 Most Promising Server Technology Solution Providers 2016"". Parallels. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
36. ^ Dignan, Larry. "Corel buys Parallels for Windows on Mac play". ZDNet. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
37. ^ a b "Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise". Parallels. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
38. ^ Warren, Tom (2020-10-20). "Windows apps now run on Chromebooks with Parallels Desktop". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
39. ^ "Options for using Windows 11 with Mac® computers with Apple® M1® and M2™ chips - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
40. ^ Warren, Tom (2023-02-16). "Microsoft to support Windows 11 on Apple M1 and M2 Macs through Parallels partnership". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
41. ^ "Announcing our new product offering, DaaS: Unleash the power of the cloud for remote and hybrid work". www.parallels.com. 2025-03-15. Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
42. ^ "Parallels acquires remote application server developer 2X Software". zdnet. 2015-02-25. Archived from the original on 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
43. ^ Endicott, Sean (2018-02-28). "Parallels Toolbox is a Swiss Army knife for Windows 10". Windows Central. Archived from the original on 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
44. ^ "Parallels Access Support". www.parallels.com. 2022-07-28. Archived from the original on 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
45. ^ "Parallels Access". www.parallels.com. 2022-07-28. Archived from the original on 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
46. ^ "Parallels DaaS". www.parallels.com. 2025-03-15. Archived from the original on 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-03-15.