Microsoft cuddles up to virtualisation
Opens up licensing
SOFTWARE titan Microsoft has decided that it loves virtualisation after all.
After many years of wondering if it was going to let users stick its Windows software in the likes of VMWare, Vole has decided that it is a good idea.
The first stage of its plan is to buy Calista Technologies which makes software which makes logging on to a virtual desktop feel more like working on a physical Windows computer.
The Vole also plans to snuggle up with virtual desktop computing company, Citrix Systems to make sure that its software works better with VoleWare.
More importantly Microsoft has slashed the cost of licensing Windows for use on virtual machines to $23 from $78 per year for its big business customers.
It will allow all versions of Windows Vista to be virtualised, something it was not keen on before.
Vole has indicated that Windows Server 2008 will enable virtualisation by the middle of the year.
According to Associated Press, the move will put Microsoft in direct competition with VMWare which has about 80 percent of the market. Currently VMWare products are a bit expensive and it is thought that the appearance of Microsoft in the market will reduce the costs.
More here. µ
Comments
Vole Moles exterminated/outed as Vermin carrying Viruses?
" ....which makes logging on to a virtual desktop feel more like working on a physical Windows computer."Now that is QuITe a trick which renders wannabes turning water into wine akin to just warm-up actors and/or ushers to the Main Events Arena....... and a whole NeuReal World of Exclusive Executive Action for the Inclusive Collaboratively Minded.
Very Sunny MySQL though unless Microsoft have had a Change of Heart at the Heart of their Operations. Certainly the Dollar could be doing with it. And yes, that is the Size of the Game and the Prize to be won or lost.
Presently it is being lost, n'est ce pas?
What I'd like to see
I'd hope this leads to the following -Microsoft realises that the current code base for its OS's has reached its evolutionary end and decided to build a brand new, ground up, legacy free OS and enables legacy OS usage through a built in virtual platform. Doubt it will ever happen though.
Taking their own medicine?
Rumour has it that the Microsoft datacenter is awash with VMware servers.