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Microsoft Completes Softricity Buyout

Microsoft has completed its purchase of application virtualization vendor Softricity, the company said this week.

The Boston-based firm is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant.

"With application virtualization and software streaming, Microsoft can now deliver virtualization at the application layer [which] is an important part of Microsoft's virtualization strategy across the platform, operating system, applications and management layers to help customers achieve self-managing dynamic systems," Bob Muglia, senior vice president of Microsoft's Server and Tools Business, in a prepared statement.

Microsoft announced its intention to buy out the Boston-based company at its annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference in late May. High on the list of products Microsoft acquired is its SoftGrid application virtualization package.

SoftGrid provides a Windows application virtualization tool that turns applications from locally installed programs into virtual services that are centrally managed and deployed on-demand to users. Applications are turned into data that can be delivered and run anywhere, independent of the infrastructure. (See "Softricity Updates SoftGrid – Delays Zero Touch," July 14, 2005)

Microsoft plans to soon ship SoftGrid at a reduced price from its current $200 per user rate, and in a streamlined form. There will be two core offerings -- SoftGrid for Desktops and SoftGrid for Terminal Services. Both will include Softricity's ZeroTouch Web-based access and self-service portal capabilities. Additionally, Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 customers will be able to download Softricity's SMS connector for free.

The company assured existing Softricity customers that support will continue uninterrupted. Microsoft's statement said the firm will provide additional details regarding Windows Vista and Longhorn Server at a later date.

About the Author

Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.

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