Microsoft to highlight app virtualization at September launch
Last month, Microsoft officials mentioned the company was planning some kind of virtualization launch event to be held in Seattle in early September, but wouldn't say more. But now the cat is (at least partially) out of the virtual bag.
Microsoft is planning to highlight three of its virtualization offerings -- the recently-released-to-manufacturing Hyper-V, Virtual Machine Manager 2008 and Microsoft Desktop and Application Virtualization (which I've seen some Softies calling App-V).
From the "GetVirtualNow" event site:
"On September 8th, 2008 Microsoft will launch its new virtualization products. Now you can virtualize from the data center to the desktop, and manage with the same tools you're already using for your physical infrastructure."
According to the agenda for the launch, Microsoft also will be talking up Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V), which, like its Desktop and Application Virtualization offering, is part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (a collection of tools available to Software Assurance licensees only.
MED-V is the new name of the Kidaro technology Microsoft purchased earlier this year, and which it is expected to begin delivering to users in the first half of 2009. A white paper explains MED-V as a product which "enhances deployment and management of Virtual PC images on a Windows Desktop while also providing a seamless user experience on a Virtual PC environment independent of the local desktop configuration and operating system."
But back to App-V (SoftGrid). Remember the dust-up earlier this year about Microsoft allegedly allowing partners to offer app-virtualization via streaming? In May, I wrote:
"What’s coming next on the SoftGrid front, is a change in Microsoft licensing that will enable SoftGrid to be used in both offline and online scenarios both inside and outside of the corporate firewall, said Gavriella Schuster, Senior Director in the Windows Product Group. Schuster would not say when this change is coming or what form it would take. She did say that the Office team was working through the details.
"Microsoft partners, however, say the plans are already in place for adding new licensing options to SoftGrid that would make it more of a head-to-head competitor with Web-based applications like Google Docs."
Perhaps September 8 is going to be the new date for Microsoft's app-virtualization strategy update? Stay tuned....