Parallels (company)

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{{Infobox company

| name = Parallels International GmbH

| logo = Parallels Logo.svg

| num_employees = 800+{{cite web|url=http://www.parallels.com/about/careers/|title=Career Opportunities|access-date=2017-08-02|archive-date=2017-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802164645/http://www.parallels.com/about/careers/|url-status=live}}

| foundation = {{start date and age|1999}}

| location = Bellevue, Washington, United States{{Cite web |url=http://www.parallels.com/en/contact/ |title=Worldwide Operations HQ | website = www.parallels.com |access-date=2008-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028204017/http://www.parallels.com/en/contact/ |archive-date=2008-10-28 |url-status=dead }}

| industry = Virtualization

| parent = Alludo

| revenue = {{US$|100 million|link=yes}} (2008){{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aXGUX2luUUGY|title=Parallels CEO Sees IPO in a Few Years, Not an Acquisition|website=Bloomberg News|date=6 July 2023|access-date=10 March 2017|archive-date=3 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503021451/https://www.bloomberg.com/politics?pid=20601103&sid=aXGUX2luUUGY|url-status=live}}

| genre = Virtualization and Hosting Automation

| homepage = {{Official URL}}

| products = Parallels Desktop for Mac
Parallels RAS
Parallels Toolbox
Parallels Access

}}

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{{Cite web |last=Staff Writer |date=10 June 2022 |title=COREL sets up centre of excellence in Mauritius, gears up to collaborate with academic institutions {{!}} Platform Africa |url=https://platformafrica.com/2022/06/10/corel-sets-up-centre-of-excellence-in-mauritius-gears-up-to-collaborate-with-academic-institutions/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021195154/https://platformafrica.com/2022/06/10/corel-sets-up-centre-of-excellence-in-mauritius-gears-up-to-collaborate-with-academic-institutions/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-30 |title=Employment and training: Collaboration between Corel Corporation and Polytechnics Mauritius |url=https://mauritiushindinews.com/ion-news/employment-and-training-collaboration-between-corel-corporation-and-polytechnics-mauritius/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Mauritius News |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021225220/https://mauritiushindinews.com/ion-news/employment-and-training-collaboration-between-corel-corporation-and-polytechnics-mauritius/ |url-status=dead }}

History

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.{{Cite web |title=SWsoft Renames Itself "Parallels" |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/swsoft-renames-itself-parallels/ |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=ZDNET |language=en}} Their Virtuozzo product was an early system-level server virtualization technology, in 2003, they acquired Plesk, a commercial web hosting platform.{{cite web |date=2003-06-10 |title=Web Hosting News : SWsoft Acquires Plesk and Confixx to Create Global Hosting Software Powerhouse |url=http://www.hostreview.com/news/news/030610swsoft.html |website=HostReview |access-date=2017-07-28 |archive-date=2008-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201040823/http://www.hostreview.com/news/news/030610swsoft.html |url-status=live }}

SWSoft acquired Parallels, Inc. in 2004, but this information was not made public until January 2007.{{cite web |last=Cheng |first=Jacqui |date=22 January 2007 |title=Parallels acknowledges SWsoft ownership |url=https://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/1/22/6709 |website=ARS Technica |access-date=14 June 2017 |archive-date=17 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117225159/http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/1/22/6709 |url-status=live }} Parallels Workstation for Windows and Linux 2.0{{cite web |last=Rudolf |first=Ben |date=2005-12-08 |title=Parallels Announces the General Availability of Workstation 2.0 for $49 per License; Includes Full Support for Intel® Virtualization Technology |url=http://www.parallels.com/en/news/id,8345 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016114652/http://www.parallels.com/en/news/id,8345 |archive-date=October 16, 2006 |website=Parallels}} was released in the same year, with Parallels Desktop for Mac following in mid-2006.{{cite web |last=Rudolf |first=Benjamin |date=2006-06-15 |title=Computer Users Can Simultaneously Run Mac OS, Windows, Linux Programs with Parallels Desktop for Mac |url=http://www.parallels.com/en/news/id,9121 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218114549/http://www.parallels.com/en/news/id,9121 |archive-date=February 18, 2007 |website=Parallels}} 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.{{Cite web |url= http://weblog.infoworld.com/virtualization/archives/2007/06/parallels_annou_3.html |title= InfoWorld Virtualization Report {{!}} David Marshall {{!}} InfoWorld {{!}} Parallels Announces Features of its Mac Server Virtualization Product |date= June 16, 2007 |orig-year= 04:03 PM |first= David |last= Marshall |access-date=2017-04-19 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070620172651/http://weblog.infoworld.com/virtualization/archives/2007/06/parallels_annou_3.html |archive-date= 2007-06-20 |url-status=dead }} Parallels Server for Mac allows IT managers to run multiple server operating systems on a single Mac Xserve.{{cite web |title=Parallels demos Mac server virtualization |url=http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9024859 |url-status=dead |website=Computer World |access-date=2007-06-27 |archive-date=2007-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106112044/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9024859 }}{{cite web |title=Parallels Desktop 19 for Mac |url=http://www.parallels.com/en/products/server/mac/ |website=Parallels |access-date=2017-04-19 |archive-date=2008-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011153422/http://www.parallels.com/en/products/server/mac |url-status=live }}

In 2007, there were reports of a lawsuit by the German company Netsys GmbH against Parallels' German distributor Avanquest for alleged copyright violation.{{Cite web |title=Parallels accused of violating WINE license – virtualization.info |url=https://virtualization.info/2007/07/01/parallels-accused-of-violating-wine/ |access-date=2025-04-11 |language=en-US}} Parallels Server for Mac was announced at WWDC, and later Parallels Technology Network.{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Peter |date=2007-04-26 |title=Parallels Technology Network announced |url=http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9017923 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123161028/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9017923 |archive-date=2007-11-23 |website=Computer World}}

In 2008, SWSoft merged with Parallels to become one company under the Parallels branding,{{cite web|first=David|last=Marshall|date=January 29, 2008|orig-year=08:03 PM|url=http://weblog.infoworld.com/virtualization/archives/2008/01/parallels_annou_5.html|title=InfoWorld Virtualization Report {{!}} David Marshall {{!}} InfoWorld {{!}} Parallels Announces Virtuozzo Containers 4.0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202112001/http://weblog.infoworld.com/virtualization/archives/2008/01/parallels_annou_5.html|archive-date=February 2, 2008}} which then acquired ModernGigabyte, LLC.{{cite web |title=Web Host Industry News {{!}} Parallels Acquires ModernGigabyte |url=http://www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/032708_Parallels_Acquires_ModernGigabyte.cfm |website=Web Hosting Talk |access-date=2008-04-11 |archive-date=2008-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331134037/http://www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/032708_Parallels_Acquires_ModernGigabyte.cfm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Parallels.com {{!}} Parallels Acquires ModernGigabyte |url=http://www.parallels.com/modernbill |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511183645/http://www.parallels.com/modernbill |archive-date=2008-05-11 |website=Parallels}} Parallels Server for Mac was launched in June,{{cite web|first=David|last=Marshall|date=June 18, 2008|orig-year=08:14 AM|url=http://weblog.infoworld.com/virtualization/archives/2008/06/parallels_annou_6.html|title=Virtualization Report {{!}} David Marshall {{!}} InfoWorld {{!}} Parallels announces the first Mac server virtualization platform|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080619031609/http://weblog.infoworld.com/virtualization/archives/2008/06/parallels_annou_6.html |archive-date=June 19, 2008 }} then in September Parallels Desktop 4 for Windows and Linux, a rename of Parallels Workstation for the 4.0 release,{{cite web |date=2009-09-01 |title=Desktop 4 for Windows and Linux Leverages Industry-Leading Mac Technology to Enable Widespread Adoption of PC Virtualization |url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id,19933 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-07-31 |publisher=Parallels |archive-date=2012-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331032535/http://www.parallels.com/news/id,19933 }} and Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac{{cite web |title=Desktop 4.0 for Mac Offers Premium Windows-on-Mac Experience |url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id,16310 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-07-31 |publisher=Parallels |archive-date=2012-02-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229173717/http://www.parallels.com/news/id,16310 }} 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,{{cite web |url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id,20879 |title=Desktop 5 for Mac Offers Fastest Performance on Snow Leopard and for Windows 7 Available |publisher=Parallels |access-date=2012-07-31 |archive-date=2012-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909130947/http://www.parallels.com/news/id,20879 |url-status=live }} Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac,{{cite web |url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id,24051 |title=Desktop 6 for Mac Delivers Unprecedented New and Enhanced Features for Best Windows on Mac Experience Yet |publisher=Parallels |access-date=2012-07-31 |archive-date=2012-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708235130/http://www.parallels.com/news/id,24051 |url-status=live }} Parallels Server for Mac 4.0 Mac mini edition,{{cite web |date=2011-05-11 |title=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 |url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id,27500 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-07-31 |publisher=Parallels |archive-date=2012-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307005804/http://www.parallels.com/news/id,27500 }} Parallels Transporter,{{cite web |date=2011-05-18 |title=Transporter Launches on the Mac App Store, Makes the Move from a PC to a Mac Easy |url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id,27672 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-07-31 |publisher=Parallels |archive-date=2013-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410032216/http://www.parallels.com/news/id,27672 }} Parallels Workstation 6 Extreme,{{cite web |date=2011-08-09 |title=Workstation 6 Extreme makes the consolidated professional graphics workstation a reality through unmatched performance of direct assignment technology |url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id,28315 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-07-31 |publisher=Parallels |archive-date=2012-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516141941/http://www.parallels.com/news/id,28315 }} Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac,{{cite web |title=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 |url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id,28728 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-07-31 |publisher=Parallels |archive-date=2012-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531113933/http://www.parallels.com/news/id,28728 }} Parallels Mobile for iOS,{{cite web |date=2011-09-01 |title=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 |url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id,28732 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-07-31 |publisher=Parallels |archive-date=2012-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529094106/http://www.parallels.com/news/id,28732 }} and Parallels Workstation 6.{{cite web |date=2011-11-08 |title=Workstation 6 Gives Web Designers and IT Professionals Seamless Capabilities for Running Multiple Operating Systems – Including Windows 8 – on a Single PC |url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id,29456 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-07-31 |publisher=Parallels |archive-date=2012-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920022040/http://www.parallels.com/news/id,29456 }}

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,{{cite web|url = http://www.brianmadden.com/blogs/brianmadden/archive/2015/02/26/parallels-buys-2x-software.aspx|title = Parallels Buys 2X Software|first = Brian|last = Madden|publisher = brianmadden.com|date = 2015-02-26|access-date = April 26, 2017|archive-date = 2016-03-09|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160309051537/http://www.brianmadden.com/blogs/brianmadden/archive/2015/02/26/parallels-buys-2x-software.aspx?|url-status = live}} rebranded their service provider business to Odin,{{Cite web |title=We've Changed Our Name – Parallels Service Provider Business is Now Odin |url=http://blog.odin.com/serviceprovider/2015/3/24/weve-changed-our-name-parallels-service-provider-business-is-now-odin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326144929/http://blog.odin.com/serviceprovider/2015/3/24/weve-changed-our-name-parallels-service-provider-business-is-now-odin |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-03-26 |website=blog.odin.com |access-date=2015-11-14 }} later sold the Odin Service Automation Platform to Ingram Micro.{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2015 |title=Parallels Holdings Limited Announces the Sale of its Odin Service Automation Platform to Ingram Micro |url=http://www.odin.com/news/pr/release/article/sale-of-odin-service-automation-platform-to-ingram-micro |url-status=dead |access-date=2016-03-30 |website=www.odin.com |archive-date=2016-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326045511/http://www.odin.com/news/pr/release/article/sale-of-odin-service-automation-platform-to-ingram-micro }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=2016-05-12 |title=Virtuozzo to build full container stack, target the data centre |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/05/12/virtuozzo_to_build_full_container_stack_target_the_data_centre/ |website=The Register |access-date=2017-09-07 |archive-date=2017-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806063051/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/05/12/virtuozzo_to_build_full_container_stack_target_the_data_centre/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.odin.com/news/pr/release/article/sale-of-odin-service-automation-platform-to-ingram-micro/ |website=www.odin.com |access-date=2016-07-07 |archive-date=2016-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426170639/http://www.odin.com/news/pr/release/article/sale-of-odin-service-automation-platform-to-ingram-micro |url-status=live }}

In December 2018, Corel announced that it had acquired Parallels.{{cite web |last=Bonuccelli |first=Giorgio |date=15 February 2017 |title=CIOReview Magazine Praises Parallels: One of the "20 Most Promising Server Technology Solution Providers 2016" |url=https://www.parallels.com/blogs/ras/cioreview |website=Parallels |access-date=4 December 2019 |archive-date=4 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204131653/https://www.parallels.com/blogs/ras/cioreview/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/corel-buys-parallels-for-windows-on-mac-play/|title=Corel buys Parallels for Windows on Mac play|last=Dignan|first=Larry|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=2018-12-20|archive-date=2018-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220160158/https://www.zdnet.com/article/corel-buys-parallels-for-windows-on-mac-play/|url-status=live}}

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.{{cite web |date=2 September 2021 |title=Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise |url=https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/chrome/ |website=Parallels |access-date=20 October 2020 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021030242/https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/chrome/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2020-10-20 |title=Windows apps now run on Chromebooks with Parallels Desktop |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/20/21524585/google-chrome-os-windows-apps-chromebooks-parallels-desktop-features |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822131016/https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/20/21524585/google-chrome-os-windows-apps-chromebooks-parallels-desktop-features |url-status=live }}

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.{{Cite web |title=Options for using Windows 11 with Mac® computers with Apple® M1® and M2™ chips - Microsoft Support |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/options-for-using-windows-11-with-mac-computers-with-apple-m1-and-m2-chips-cd15fd62-9b34-4b78-b0bc-121baa3c568c |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=support.microsoft.com |archive-date=2023-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217033647/https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/options-for-using-windows-11-with-mac-computers-with-apple-m1-and-m2-chips-cd15fd62-9b34-4b78-b0bc-121baa3c568c |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2023-02-16 |title=Microsoft to support Windows 11 on Apple M1 and M2 Macs through Parallels partnership |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/16/23602718/microsoft-windows-11-apple-mac-m1-m2-support-parallels-virtual-machines |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=2024-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221040247/https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/16/23602718/microsoft-windows-11-apple-mac-m1-m2-support-parallels-virtual-machines |url-status=live }}

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

{{Cite web

|date=2025-03-15

|title=Announcing our new product offering, DaaS: Unleash the power of the cloud for remote and hybrid work

|url=https://www.parallels.com/blogs/ras/introducing-parallels-daas

|url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114202622/https://www.parallels.com/blogs/ras/introducing-parallels-daas/

|archive-date=2025-01-14

|access-date=2025-03-15

|website=www.parallels.com

|language=en

}}

Products

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/parallels-acquires-remote-application-server-developer-2x-software/ |title=Parallels acquires remote application server developer 2X Software |publisher=zdnet |date=2015-02-25 |access-date=2018-01-31 |archive-date=2017-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104144754/http://www.zdnet.com/article/parallels-acquires-remote-application-server-developer-2x-software/ |url-status=live }}
Parallels Toolbox – a productivity suite for Windows and macOS.{{Cite web |last=Endicott |first=Sean |date=2018-02-28 |title=Parallels Toolbox is a Swiss Army knife for Windows 10 |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/parallels-toolbox-swiss-army-knife-windows-10 |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=Windows Central |language=en |archive-date=2022-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930000554/https://www.windowscentral.com/parallels-toolbox-swiss-army-knife-windows-10 |url-status=live }}
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.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-28 |title=Parallels Access Support |url=https://www.parallels.com/products/access/support/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611122506/https://www.parallels.com/products/access/support/ |archive-date=2024-06-11 |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=www.parallels.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-07-28 |title=Parallels Access |url=https://www.parallels.com/products/access/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930000553/https://www.parallels.com/products/access/ |archive-date=2022-09-30 |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=www.parallels.com |language=en}}
Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS – a Windows virtualization platform for ChromeOS.
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.