VMware Buys Wanova: More Than Virtual Deskop Infrastructure (VDI)

At first glance,  the VMware (NYSE: VMW) buyout of Wanova involves virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), a hot market opportunity for managed services providers (MSPs). But take a closer look and you’ll find VMware’s acquisition of Wanova involves far more than traditional VDI.

Indeed, VMware claims Wanova’s flagship product — Wanova Mirage — offers centralized image management across physical and virtual desktops. Those images can run in a VDI session, on a client hypervisor or natively on a PC, Wanova indicated.

The VMware-Wanova business combination is widely viewed as a counter-move to Citrix Systems and Dell-Wyse in the thin client and desktop virtualization markets.

So how can MSPs potentially benefit from the VMware-Wanova deal? More than traditional desktop as a service (DaaS), Wanova says MSPs can use Mirage to:

• synchronize PC image updates and upgrades across physical systems, virtual systems, tethered desktops and roaming laptops (Mac and PC), VMware claims.
• oversee central management, rapid disaster recovery, and universal access capabilities, VMware added.

Wanova raised $10 million in series B funding back in August 2011. Translation: Some investors are likely exiting the Wanova engagement roughly 10 months later. Changes are, VMware paid a healthy premium to snap up Wanova, though financial terms were not disclosed.