Hosted computer access and management application LogMeIn is planning to support Linux “this year” in response to growing demand for the platform.

LogMeIn supports Windows, Mac OS X and the Windows, Symbian and Blackberry mobile operating systems and works by installing a temporary agent on the client device allowing it to be administered via a hosted Web portal.

The service claims to be more accessible than traditional remote access software like VNC as it does not require any specific network settings and works “in the cloud”.

LogMeIn established an office in Australia in January this year, setting foot in a market it claims to already have 3000 customers.

LogMeIn’s Asia Pacific general manager, Seth Shaw, said a preview release of the rescue+mobile service is available for the Linux-based Android platform and it is “just a matter of time” before the operating system is supported on desktops.

“It’s definitely something that will happen this year,” Shaw said, adding the company has been monitoring the demand for Linux support.

If judging by the number of requests for LogMeIn Linux support on Internet forums and mailing lists is anything to go by, there is certainly some demand for it.

The next generation of LogMeIn is scheduled for release by the end of April and will have new tools for better management of devices and more features integrated into the central console.

“It will be interesting to people who manage systems and the prosumer as there is a new one-click access to backup to the cloud,” Shaw said.

Also available is an iPhone app that provides remote control for a PC or Mac.

“Software tools [like VNC] rely on good knowledge of the environment, like network settings, and if you are not aware of those settings the remote access will fail,” Shaw said. “If you change your target PC you can still make that connection with our software without having to reconfigure ports.”

The Web interface works with an ActiveX plug-in and can be used to log into 10 devices simultaneously.