The next major Presentation Server product will be “Parra” with a 2009 target. At this point we can assume that will be “Presentation Server 5.0.” Citrix is focusing on “IT simplicity” and “business agility” for this release. They’re paying attention to new emerging application architectures and will focus on multimedia, voice, mobile and virtual workspaces, and phone integration. (They talked about delivering the “complete” work environment—applications plus phone—in this product.) This is probably where we’ll see the autonomic load balancing “constellation” feature they keep talking about.

They also really want to focus on the concept of “subscribing” to applications and letting them flow from device to device.

Finally, they’re also focusing on really understanding the client device (capabilities, hardware, software) and the connection between the client and the server so that they can figure out where an application should be rendered on-demand and how it should be delivered.

Anyone paying attention to this industry knows that a lot is changing, and certainly the big stories out of Citrix over the next few years are going to be about the core application delivery platform integrating with Citrix Desktop Server, application streaming, Ardence, WANScaler, and the Access Gatway. But in terms of pure Presentation Server, this is what we know today.

Read Brian's full post, with additional info on the 4.5 updates next year at:
http://www.brianmadden.com/content/article/Citrix-Presentation-Server-Roadmap-2007-2009