Microsoft has quietly launched a Remote Desktop app for Android and iOS devices allowing users to access the Windows PCs using smartphones and tablets.
The free app connects users to Windows through the Remote Desktop Gateway. However, it does not detect PCs automatically, so credentials including domain, computer name, username and password need to be entered manually.
Remote Desktop scales Windows to native resolution of the device it is connecting too - whether it be the iPad or Nexus 7. All Windows 8 gestures are present and the on-screen keyboard also includes commonly used keys including shift, ctrl, alt, and the Windows key.
The iOS app has one extra piece of functionality at this time - allowing users to content to external monitors/projectors for presentations.
Microsoft has built in remote access into its operating system since Windows XP. Although there are a number of third party apps that already allow Android and iOS users to remote into Windows, this is the first time Microsoft has made an official app available to do this on third-party platforms.
"With the Microsoft Remote Desktop app, you can connect to a remote PC and your work resources from almost anywhere. Experience the power of Windows with RemoteFX in a Remote Desktop client designed to help you get your work done wherever you are," Microsoft noted in description.
Microsoft Remote Desktop is free and is available in the Apple App and Google Play stores. The apps work on Apple devices with iOS 6+ and Android 2.2 and beyond.
