Yesterday, Parallels released Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac Enterprise Edition, a packaging of its virtualization software for Mac OS X that enables IT departments to centrally deploy and manage the software in a policy-compliant manner. The Enterprise Edition includes changes to licensing and is more configurable.

A parallels spokesperson said the Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition can be distributed, along with virtual machines containing Windows, to users' Macs via third-party client deployment tools such as the JAMF Casper Suite and Quest. IT departments can use a "Parallels mass deployment package builder" to prepare deployments.

The new edition also supports lockdown and encryption policies with new capabilities to pre-configure policy-compliant deployments of Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac Enterprise Edition. It now supports Quest with a customizable menu. For instance, IT departments can add a URL, that take users to a site within the organization, a Parallels spokesperson said.

The Parallels application will be automatically registered, so that the user isn't asked to do so. In-product notification of software updates of Parallels Desktop on users Macs can be turned off so that IT departments can centrally manage updates. The product-licensing model of the Enterprise Edition is one of volume licensing with a single product key for all seats.

Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac Enterprise Edition is sold as an Annual subscription including software licenses and all upgrades, for US $100 per seat per license per year. The subscription includes 24x7 support. (The standard Parallels Desktop goes for US $80.)

The company cited several studies that predict a large increase in Mac in enterprise environment over the next few users. One study predicted a jump from 12 percent Macs in 2010 to 32 percent in 2015 for organizations with 250 Macs or more, from an online study by Information Technology Intelligence Consulting in May of this year.