Microsoft moves into VMware field

Microsoft has thrown down the gauntlet in the virtualisation space, but rival VMware appeared unconcerned by the behemoth's incursion.

Last week, the software giant announced its strategy, including the acquisition of virtualisation software vendor Calista Technologies, the expansion of partner relationships and several virtualisation technologies.
Neil Sanderson, UK product manager for systems centre virtualisation at Microsoft, said: “The virtualisation market is in its early stages, so there is room for competition.
“Microsoft’s virtualisation push is to ensure partners and end users are aware of the choices and where best to invest their infrastructure.”
Microsoft also expanded its relationship with alliance partner Citrix by developing a tool to transfer virtual machines between Citrix XenServer and Windows Server 2008 Hyper V for interoperability.
“Resellers can offer their customers more choice through interoperable technologies. Microsoft has a virtualisation platform for its partners ­ so take advantage of it and use it. It may also attract new partners that already specialise in virtualisation,” added Sanderson.
Matt Piercy, channel director for northern EMEA at VMware, said: “The vision announced by Microsoft is encouraging for VMware’s customers, however, it is still not delivering the dynamic environment that VMware has offered since 2006.”
Terry Walby, datacentre solutions manager at corporate VAR Computacenter, said: “We are a VMware and Microsoft partner. For us, it is about what is more appropriate for the customer environment.”
Hamish MacArthur of analyst MacArthur Stroud, said: “It will be an interesting fight.”
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