The long-awaited day finally came when I can use a mouse with my iPad. I received a prototype mouse this month that allows me to easily operate Windows 7 on my iPad. This crossover functionality brings us close to having one device (plus a phone) for business.

But Apple did not release the prototype. Citrix did. It's called the Citrix X1. Citrix is a multi-national software company that specializes in mobility and desktop virtualization, among other related business technologies such as cloud computing and networking.

Apple has long catered to the consumer market, focusing on creating tools for personal use. This was a business-driven move Citrix made to respond to a need in the marketplace.

A Business Challenge
It’s not that all tablets are not compatible with a mouse. Android and Windows devices have made it work for quite sometime. The challenge has been that iPads have been the go-to device for many professionals, often because they already have iPhones.

Just recently, a business leader shared with me how his entire executive team just bought iPads and now are trying to figure out how they can get their business applications to operate without a mouse.

While users can run core business platforms like Microsoft Office applications and Windows 7 on their iPads, it’s cumbersome without a mouse.

Still Need a Mouse
Although the computer industry has made major advances in computer technology and transitioned to a touch screen interface, the mouse is far from obsolete. It remains one of the best methods for humans to interface with computers. Also, many of the business management software applications (ERP) are not written for touchscreens. Without a mouse, it can be challenging to click on small buttons or links and scroll.

That led Citrix to first create a “pointer” on the screen that users could move around with their finger on the touch-screen like a mouse. Then a need for the ability to “right click” gave way to Citrix integrating a “mouse image” on the touch screen offering similar functionality as a mouse.

It still was not a mouse.

How It Works
Now we have a physical mouse – and it works well. With Citrix technology, now all I have to do is turn on the Bluetooth and open Windows 7 through the Citrix Receiver. And my new mouse works.

The downside is that iPads are built as touch-screen only. When you move outside of the Windows 7 system to Apple’s operating system, iOS and Apple apps, the mouse does not work and you need to revert to touch.

This mouse serves a niche market and will be available through Marco’s Desktop as a Service this year. It’s likely just the beginning and more manufacturers will follow suit. It gives professionals the best of both worlds.