Today, five providers of Mac-and-Windows integration software announced the formation of the Enterprise Desktop Alliance (EDA), an organization to promote and support Macs in enterprise environments. EDA plans to do market education, seminars, and webcasts, as well as work to make their product lines work better together. EDA's five founding members are Parallels (virtualization), Group Logic (file/printer services), Centrify (Active Directory integration), LANrev (remote client management), and Atempo (enterprise backup that can backup to an Apple XSan).

Several of the companies in EDA extend the standard Windows-based management environment to include management of Mac clients. Group Logic CEO Reid Lewis said that new alliance is aimed at Windows IT professions to help them get productivity out of the Mac clients.

"It's important that we reach out to Windows IT staff, CIO's, or trainers who are not familiar with the area [of integrating Macs in enterprise]," said Lewis. "We also aim to enable the Mac users to have the Mac experience without compromise."

The announcement comes at a time when Macs are becoming increasingly common in corporations. Earlier this month, the Yankee Group reported that 80 percent of businesses have at least some Macs installed. Lewis thinks Mac penetration into enterprise will continue to grow.

"The iPhone is coming and people think this is going to create increased interest in Macs," said Lewis.

This summer, the Enterprise Desktop Alliance will host a webcast on Mac enterprise integration. The group is also planning to put on physical seminars at different locations, and will be posting white papers and other information about using their different product lines together.

Several of the companies have already been collaborating to make their products work more smoothly with each other. LANrev can now manage a Windows virtual machine running in Parallels Desktop on a Mac. Group Logic and Centrify each have support information at their websites that describe using both companies' products together.

The Enterprise Desktop Alliance is also looking to partner with system integrators that have experience with deploying multiplatform integration and management solutions.