Microsoft’s Latest Virtualization Moves
Microsoft continues to polish its virtualization strategy. The company’s latest moves involve new versions of Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) and Application Virtualization (App-V) tools. Here are some quick details.
The new tools come on the heals of the newly revised Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2010. The Optimization Pack (or MDOP) is a freebie available to Software Assurance customers. NetworkWorld.com had the details, thanks to Julie Bort.
Bort reports that both MED-V and. App-V have been updated to support Windows 7 (32 and 64-bit) along with support for Windows Server 2008 R2. The new iteration of App-V also supports Windows 7 Mobile.
So Microsoft’s new tools also come with a revamped sales strategy with way cheaper licensing. NetworkWorld details…
“On July 1, Software Assurance (SA) customers will no longer have to buy a separate license to access Windows via a VDI. Microsoft however, is still relying on partner Citrix to do the heavy lifting for VDI, rather than increasing the scope of its own MDOP tools.”
So, can Microsoft keep up? VMware has shown itself to be a key player with ThinApp. We noted that it makes Windows 7 migration easy, by wrapping old Windows apps in a virtualization wrapper so they run unaware of Windows 7 all together. That’s missed opportunities for Microsoft.
The bottom line? We think Microsoft is still playing catchup. But there are plenty of Microsoft VARs who are climbing aboard Microsoft’s virtualization bandwagon.
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Hi Dave,
I appreciate you updating your readers on our latest desktop virtualization tools. We’re excited to introduce another generation of these tools. For example, App-V is on its 6th release (to include development by Softricity), has been sold to more than 30 million seats, and App-V client is localized into 23 languages. This is an area where you’ll find VMware isn’t the market share leader. Industry analyst firm IT Intelligence Corp published a market share report in January 2010, and found App-V had 15% share, Citrix XenApp 11%, and VMware ThinApp 7%. Please contact me (you have my email in this form) if you’d like a demo or more details.
Patrick: Please keep sending the news on over to The VAR Guy’s staff. The team will be watching MSFT’s moves closely.
-TVG
Could someone point me to the “IT Intelligence Corp” report? I can’t find the company or the report.
Thanks!
Cyril: Sorry, The VAR Guy has never seen that data…
-TVG