Parallels has made a name for itself by running apps in unexpected places. Its virtualization software first brought Windows apps to the Mac, then it went a big step further last year with Parallels Access, which brought both Mac and Windows apps to the iPad.

For an encore, the 14-year-old company is bringing all those desktop apps to any Android phone or tablet, as well as the iPhone. Parallels Access 2.0, available Tuesday in the iOS App Store and Google Play, will turn your mobile device into a virtual window to your PC or Mac, letting you run apps as if they were native.

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Say you're curling up in bed when an urgent email comes in, and to deal with it, you need to log into your company's proprietary desktop app, which happens to be on your computer at the office. Instead of getting in your car and mentally prepping for a long night, you log in right from your phone. Parallels adjusts the app for your device's screen, and it even incorporates native functions, such as the iOS magnifying glass and cut-and-paste menus.

As with the first version of Parallels Access, all of your desktop apps become accessible on your device, but Android gets the special bonus of being able to display app icons on the home screen. iPhone and iPad relegate all desktop apps to a special launcher, but iOS devices get a file browser that replicates Spotlight on the Mac.

With Parallels Access 2.0, iOS devices get a file browser that's similar to Spotlight on the Mac. Image: Parallels

Since desktop apps aren't often designed for fingertips, Parallels compensates with SmartTap, which estimates where you really wanted to click when tapping around menus and toolbars. To help in that regard, the Android version uses a magnifying glass similar to the one native in iOS.

To use the software effectively, you can't let the PC or Mac you're trying to access go into sleep mode. However, version 2.0 introduces a "wake on LAN" feature that should let you remotely jostle your machine awake. While the company can't guarantee it'll work all the time, it at least gives you a shot at connecting in an emergency.

Are you worried who might be around your machine when you access it remotely? New security features in the software enable you to black out the screen, and mute the computer's speakers, while you access it. And Parallels doesn't bestow unfettered access — you still need to log into the machine like you would in person.

Parallels Access 2.0 brings desktop apps to Android. Image: Parallels

With Parallels Access 2.0, you can access up to five computers from an unlimited number of iOS and Android devices for $19.99 a year, a huge price drop from the $79.99-per-machine cost of version 1.0 (it dropped a bit with subsequent updates). If you buy before June 30, you can lock in two years for $29.99.

The company is also introducing Parallels Access for Business, which has extra administrator features and multi-user capability. That costs $49.99 a year for five computers, and companies can buy to support more in increments of five. Parallels is making the business offering free until July 31.