08.25.09
VMware Turns Sour After Microsoft Intervention
Summary: VMware shows signs of Linux neglect, just like Xen after receiving funding, staff and acquisition from Microsoft-tied entities
VMware is run by Microsoft veterans after aggressive intervention and this causes real trouble. Joining the Linux Foundation was a cheap (as in relatively inexpensive) public relations move for VMware; judging by its actions, it’s not serious about the platform anymore. From the news:
VMware drags its feet on Linux-based vCenter appliance, annoys Linux users
The vCenter virtual appliance server 2.5 has been available as a free technology preview since late February. The cross-platform client interface is still in development but some components have been available in technology preview since May, with no word on how long users will have to wait for a full production release of either product. All of that doesn’t sit well with some people.
Eric Siebert, a TechTarget blogger and IT veteran, said he thinks VMware may have been dragging its feet a bit on this project because its customer base is predominately Windows. But VMware needs to step up its Linux efforts if it wants to compete with Xen and Hyper-V for Linux users, he said.
Why is this happening? Is Microsoft using Maritz and his other Microsoft colleagues as what it calls “insider friend, ‘the Fox’” or is this neglect simply part of the company’s overall weakness?
VMware — being part of EMC — is Microsoft Partner of the Year 2008 and so is Citrix/Xen, whose role has become Microsoft centered.
Another one of Microsoft’s suspicious ‘puppets’ is Yahoo!
It truly shows now that Yahoo! joins Microsoft's action against Google in books and now that Yahoo acquires Maktoob. Guess who it may be piggybacking?
Yahoo Acquires Arab Portal, Bing Gets Backdoor Into Deal
[...]
This morning Yahoo announced that it was acquiring Maktoob.com, “the leading online community in the Arab world.” According to Yahoo the site has an audience of 16.5 million people. The purchase price has been estimated at between $75 and $100 million and was apparently in the works before the search deal with Microsoft was announced last month. Yahoo said the acquisition is part of a larger strategy to grow its audience in emerging markets and become the “destination of choice” in those locations.
It is reasonable to treat Yahoo! almost like a subsidiary of Microsoft in particular areas. As we have seen before, Microsoft may also use its partners to acquire other companies for competitive reasons. This is sad. █
stonebit said,
August 25, 2009 at 10:22 pm
VMware always seemed a bit heavy for me…. a ~250 meg package as opposed to about 40 megs for compeditors. Why? I never liked the MS partner thing either. Why would MS partner with someone that makes a competing product?
Roy Schestowitz Reply:
August 26th, 2009 at 2:44 am
Turning competitors to allies. Who needs this thing called competition when the “Free market” obviously favours collusion?
aeshna23 Reply:
August 26th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Adam Smith famously warned about “competitors” colluding back in the 18th century. Some government regulation is good!