5 Windows Remote Desktop (RDP) Client Apps for iPhone, iTouch and iPad

Using iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, you can connect to a Windows Workstation Computer and see it's files, programs and other resources, exactly same as you would if you were sitting at the desk. It just only showed on a smaller screen. Here are five iOS apps that can be used as a remote client to control Windows PC from iDevice.

Here are these remote desktop client apps for Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch that are available on iTunes Store. All of downloads links are provided at the bottom of this post.

1. iTap RDP (Remote Desktop for Windows)

By utilizing Microsoft RDP protocol, iTap RDP app gives a complete control and fast access on the hands. This app also supports Leostream Connection Broker (In-App purchase), TS Gateway (In-App purchase), Sychron OnDemand (In-App purchase), Video Adapter and bluetooth keyboards.

Here are iTap RDP app features:

- Support for TS Gateway (RDP from Anywhere). It's the only RDP
  client app on the iPhone that supports this,
- Support for NLA (Network Level Authentication) and TLS security
  methods (the only app for iPhone),
- Support for Leostream Connection Broker (the only app for iPhone),
- Support for Sychron OnDemand (the only app for iPhone),
- Support for NSCodec (fast 32bit bitmap codec),
- Original resolution ability on iPad and iPhone 4,
- Supports Copy and Paste for text only,
- Support for external Video connectors (HD with iPad 2 and HDMI),
- Fast app switching on iOS 4,
- 60% less bandwidth than any other RDP client for iOS,
- Very big Desktops (up to the Windows limit of 4096x2048 pixels),
- Stream sound from Windows to iPhone, iPod or iPad directly,
- Built-in support wizard,
- Automatic bandwidth reduction on 3G networks
- Automatic reconnect without entering passwords again,
- Unique scope mode for precise control,
- Three different mouse input modes,
- International keyboard support,
- Gesture based for maximum screen space,
- High security (including NLA and FIPS compliant security protocols),
- Bitmap Cache and Compression to reduce bandwidth,
- Supports 8, 15, 16, 24 and 32bit color modes,
- Console sessions (only for Windows Terminal Server),
- Remote Program supports to start programs automatically on login.

Supported Windows Systems:

- Windows XP Professional,
- Windows XP Media Center 2005,
- Windows Vista Business, Ultimate and Enterprise,
- Windows Server 2000,
- Windows Small Business Server 2003, 2008 and 2011,
- Windows Server 2003 and 2003 R2(console and terminal servers),
- Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2(console and terminal server),
- Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate.

Please see http://itap-mobile.com/itap-rdp for more information about Windows XP Home, Windows Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home and Windows 7 Home and Starter. They only work with 3rd party software.

2. iTap VNC (Remote Desktop for Windows and Mac)

VNC protocol client was natively used to remote manage Mac and Linux desktop. iTap VNC app can also be used for Remote Controlling Windows as well.

Here are iTap VNC features;

- Supports secure user authentication,
- Supports VGA adapter (only on iPad),
- Supports bluetooth keyboard (iPad),
- Large desktops supports including full HD and more,
- Leostream Connection Broker supports,
- Built-in support wizard,
- Unique scope mode for precise control of remote desktop,
- Three different mouse input modes,
- Automatic bandwidth reduction on 3G network connections,
- Fully gesture based for maximum screen-space,
- Compression to reduce bandwidth,
- 8, 15, 16 and 24 bit color modes,
- Convenient server search,
- Remember multiple credentials for each server,
- Windows PC host resolution switching.

iTap VNC app requires iOS 3.0 or later.

3. Jaadu Remote Desktop for Windows

Jaadu RDP app for iOS device is a well-built and polished app that stands out among the other remote desktop apps.

Here are the features of Jaadu Remote Desktop for Windows app;

- Securely access Windows PC from anywhere worldwide,
- Stream audio directly from PC to iPhone or iPod Touch,
- Fully supports international keyboards and characters,
- Keyboard modifier for Ctrl, Alt, Win, Tab, cursor, short cut keys,
  combination (e.g. CTRL+ALT+DEL) and more,
- Full mouse supports; left click, double click, right click, drag and
  drop and scroll wheel,
- Control and run almost all PC applications from iPhone including MS
  Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Internet Explorer and Firefox
  (of course supports flash websites) and more,
- Edit documents, manage servers, fill expense forms, listen to flash
  radio stations and more,
- Intuitive Touchpad mode makes it's efficient on controlling Windows
  applications using iPhone, iTouch or iPad,
- Smart gestures: 2 finger scroll, 3 tap quick zoom in/out, 2 finger
  horizontal swipe for task switching,
- 128 bit encryption,
- Compatible with iPhone VPN for corporate networks,
- Supports SSH proxy,
- Three quality control settings for optimal bandwidth usage,
- Options to leave audio on PC or to turn off completely,
- Goo Performance; fast and stable
- High resolution supports,
- Performance settings to suite slow internet connections,

Jaadu RDP client app supports the following Windows OS:
- Windows XP Professional and Media Center Edition,
- Windows Vista Business and Ultimate,
- Windows 2000,
- Windows Server 2003 and 2008,
- Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate,

Windows PC monitor will be locked when remote controlling the desktop from iPhone/iPod/iPad. So, you can use Jaadu VNC RDP app if you need your desktop PC unlocked while controlling it remotely.

Jaadu Remote Desktop for Windows - client app requires iOS 3.0 or later.

4. Remote Desktop - RDP and Free Remote Desktop Lite

Here are Remote Desktop - RDP apps features;
- Using standard RDP protocol,
- Mouse left/right click, hover, drag and wheel,
- Landscape mode,
- View (Read) only mode,
- Printing supports,
- Zoom and scroll as in the Safari Browser,
- 8/16 bit color mode for faster screen updates,
- Wake on LAN (WoL),
- Banners with extra keys (CTRL, SHIFT, ALT, Arrows, F1, F2, etc),
- Easy configuration by NETBIOS name support,
- Have RDP-protocol patent license from Microsoft.

Some limitations of the Remote Desktop - RDP client apps;

- Windows OS that does not include the RDP protocol cannot be used,
  (e.g. Home edition),
- Requires another patent license from Microsoft to have Windows 2000/
  2003/2008 server access,
- Not having sound supports,
- Only supports 7 keyboard types( US, German QWERTZ, Danish,
  French AZERTY , UK , Spanish and Canadian).

This app compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad with iOS 3.0 or later.

5. Desktop Connect app for iOS

This nifty app can instantly connect to any desktop computer from anywhere in the world. Desktop Connect is fast and full-featured remote desktop viewer. You can view and control over Mac OSX (including Lion), Windows and Linux OS computers as if you were sitting in front of them.

Desktop Connect app is the only universal app for iPhone/iPad/iTouch that can automatically discover all of computers on a local network. This app also uniquely supports both VNC and Microsoft Remote Desktop (RDP) protocols.

Here are Desktop Connect app features;

- Able to view flash websites,
- Launch and view any desktop applications,
- Control Media Players or PowerPoint Presentations remotely,
- Access important business document while on the go,
- Remote help supports,
- Guide administrator officer while watch the desktop remotely,
- Share clipboard for iPad and desktop allowing copy and paste
  between them (RDP only),
- Easy connection configuration,
- Can find and connect computer anywhere by simply signing into
  Google Mail (Gmail) account,
- Stream sound from Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Mac OS X,
- Easy Connect uses VNC protocol,
- Optimized performance for responsive control ever the computer,
- Browse all computers on network easily,
- Easy Connect Gateway; enables to view an Easy Connect PC from
  any Java enabled browser or a VNC viewer from other computer,
- Privacy with NLA authentication and SSL for RDP,
- All data encrypted using industry standard SSL 128 bit encryption,
- Restrict access to Desktop Connect with a passcode,
- Data encryption available through SSH tunneling and VPN access,
- Wake on LAN (WOL),
- Best automatic discovery through both Apple Bonjour and Microsoft
  NETBIOS,
- Supports for using external keyboard.

Here are supported Operating Systems by Desktop Connect app:

- Windows XP Professional,
- Windows Server 2003 and 2008,
- Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate,
- Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate,
- Mac OS X (Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion)

While here are can still be connected using Easy Connect (or any VNC server);

- Windows XP Home Edition,
- Windows Vista Home Premium,
- Windows 7 Home Premium .

Easy Connect app can run on iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad with iOS 3.2 or above.


Download links from Apple iTunes:
- iTap RDP (Remote Desktop for Windows),
- iTap VNC (Remote Desktop for Windows and Mac),
- Jaadu Remote Desktop for Windows,
- Remote Desktop - RDP app,
  Free Remote Desktop Lite - RDP app,
- Desktop Connect app for iOS.