Sign in Subscribe
Computer industry

VMware Seeks to Create Industry Standard for Virtual Machine Software

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

VMware, the leader in virtual machine software, aims to create an industry standard by sharing its underlying engine with major partners like IBM, Intel, and Hewlett-Packard. This move comes as Microsoft prepares to enter the market with its next version of Windows. The partnership will allow the companies to modify and sell the engine as part of their own products, but it will not be freely distributed. VMware sees this as a key step in its growth strategy, as it continues to focus on adding features and services on top of its basic technology.

Key Takeaways:

  • VMware will share its underlying engine with partners IBM, Intel, and Hewlett-Packard, among others, to create an industry standard for virtual machine software.
  • Microsoft's upcoming version of Windows is expected to enter the market in late 2003, prompting VMware to accelerate its standardization efforts.
  • Virtual machine technology allows multiple operating systems, such as Windows and Linux, to run on a single physical computer, increasing efficiency and reducing costs in corporate data centers.
  • The move by VMware reflects the pressure on software companies to adopt a more open approach and share their technology, rather than allowing a single company to dominate the market.
  • The partnership will allow each partner to modify the engine for their own products, but it will not be freely distributed.
  • VMware sees continued growth opportunities by adding features and services on top of its basic technology.
  • Microsoft's late entry into the virtual machine market may be due to its potential to reduce the strategic importance of Windows.

Statistics:

  • VMware is the leader in the rapidly growing market for virtual machine software.
  • The virtual machine software market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
  • Microsoft's next version of Windows is expected to be released in late 2003.
  • Virtual machine technology has been used on mainframe computers since the 1960s.
  • VMware has pioneered the commercialization of virtual machine software for lower-cost computers powered by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) chips.

Sources:

  • VMware: unnamed press release (no date)
  • VMware: Diane Greene, CEO and Co-Founder (cited directly from the article)
  • Gartner: Martin Reynolds, Analyst (cited directly from the article)
  • IBM: no specific source
  • Intel: no specific source
  • Hewlett-Packard: no specific source
  • Microsoft: Connectix acquisition (no specific date)

Read more