Channel Insider's Zero Client, Thin Client, Desktop Virtualization Resource Guide - The major players and where the money is
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The major players
Virtualization giant VMware has been setting the tone by
dominating the server virtualization market which has exploded over the past few years. Can it do the same with desktop virtualization? The company
laid out its plans to channel partners at a conference earlier this year, which focused on key areas such as the integration of its recently acquired e-mail and collaboration platform, Zimbra, as well as desktop virtualization technologies.
VMware introduced VMware View 4 last year, which incorporates the PC-over-IP protocol, technology which one IT solution provider told Channel Insider was
“disruptive” and “game-changing”.
But VMware’s strength doesn’t mean that virtualization rival, Citrix, is out of the game either. Managed services and infrastructure provider Carpathia Hosting told Channel Insider the reasons behind why it chose Citrix over VMware for cloud virtualization.
Check them out here.
Microsoft the long shot? Well, when it comes to virtualization the software giant was late to the game with its server virtualization. The best selling points may be its integration with everything Microsoft and its price – shipping free with Windows Server.
Sometimes free makes it good enough. And some in the industry are saying that Microsoft’s
Hyper-V may very well appeal to small businesses that are looking to get in the game, but don’t want to shell out lots of cash yet. Solution providers have told Channel Insider that it’s no big deal to migrate from one hypervisor to another if the company grows. So what does it matter?
Plus, Microsoft recently made
a host of desktop virtualization announcements, including a partnership with Citrix to create a "VDI Kick Start Promotion" that combines Citrix's XenDesktop with Microsoft's VDI and offers the package to businesses for just $28 per user. And in an indication that things are heating up, the companies said that to win customers back over to Citrix desktop virtualization, Citrix and Microsoft are offering a promotion in which they will allow customers to trade up to 500 VMware desktop virtualization licenses for the combined Citrix XenDesktop/Microsoft VDI desktop virtualization licenses at zero cost to the customer.Microsoft is also planning virtualization features for its Windows 7 SP 1 when released that will improve performance.
Where the real money is
And just like everything else, it’s not the hardware sales that are going to make you money with virtual clients, it’s the
ongoing service engagements.
Virtualization 
