SAN JOSE, Calif. — Microsoft will unveil a broad virtualization strategy today with the goal of better competing with market leader VMware.
The software giant will announce an alliance with virtualization-software company Citrix Systems, disclose the acquisition of privately held Calista Technologies of San Jose and lower the price of Windows Vista on virtualized computers, a Microsoft release said.
It also will permit, for the first time, consumer versions of Windows Vista to run in a virtualized environment, where computers or servers improve effectiveness by running multiple operating systems and applications in “virtual” compartments on the same machine.
“This is a shot across VMware’s bow,” said analyst Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates.
Microsoft said it sees the virtualization market in its early stages, with only 5 percent of new servers being outfitted with virtualization software.
