Citrix bashes VMware over AirWatch takeover
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," claims Citrix, which insists it has a head start in the mobile space
Citrix has hit out at rival VMware's recent acquisition of AirWatch, insisting that it is the leader in the mobile space and dismissing VMware's move as an attempt to play catch up.
Earlier this week, VMware coughed up more than a $1bn for US enterprise mobilility firm AirWatch in order to bolster its End-User Computing group. Its chief executive Pat Gelsinger said the move would help "turbo-charge" customers' mobile workforce without compromising security.
But Citrix's vice president of product marketing for its mobile services division, Ahmed Datoo, accused VMware of imitating his firm's strategy.
"Over a year ago, we said that the industry is much more than MDM [mobile-device management] and introduced the concept and need for complete mobile management," he said. "We're flattered that VMware today acknowledged that we reset the agenda.
"While VMware recognises the need for a broader solution, they bought a company where almost all of their revenue is MDM - that was where Citrix was a year ago."
Datoo pointed to a flurry of acquisitions Citrix has recently made - which helped build what he claims are its superior mobile-management products - including NetScaler, XenServer, GoToMeeting, Sharefile, Zenprise, Byte Squared and Framehawk.
"We've spent years integrating the products to provide a rich user experience," he added. "So welcome to the mobile party, VMWare, but sorry to tell you that we have a several-year head start."
Analyst IDC was more optimistic about VMware's latest buy. It said that although it will arrive to the Asia Pacific market with mobile technology later than Citrix did, it might have an easier job getting to market.
"With the announcement to acquire AirWatch, VMware can transform itself to becoming an enterprise-mobility powerhouse in [the] Asia Pacific [region] fairly quickly," it said.
"And unlike IBM's acquisition of Fiberlink and Citrix's acquisition of Zenprise, VMware would not have to invest heavily to build up the Asia Pacific mobility business since AirWatch already has a significant presence here."