News
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.