VMware Sets Sights on Desktop OS

At this years’ VMWorld, VMware announced that it will be developing a hosted service (due in 2011) that will allow the delivery of cloud-based desktop applications to any type of end-user device (re: iPad, Android or iPhone, Wintel machine, Mac, etc…)

Code named “Project Horizon”; this subscription service is being touted as a replacement for the traditional operating system (re: Microsoft) but detailed specifics regarding this project were hard to find.  

As Vittorio Viarengo, VP of Desktop Marketing for VMware states: “The role of the operating system is getting diminished every day on the server side”, and I can readily see VMware’s viewpoint that it is likely to move into the desktop space in the mid to long term. With that said, I believe there are some key caveats that need to be properly addressed:

• Security
• DR/BC/Central Point of Failure
• Provisioning
• Management
• SLA

Does anyone remember how long it took to get the traditional desktop OS to even address these key bullet points? And this was on pretty standardized Wintel machines for the most part.

On paper, the hosted platform should take care of these issues pretty handily, but we all know there are always discrepancies between real life and what is presented on paper; especially when it comes to IT.

Anyway, I really like the way VMware seems to be innovating on all cylinders recently. This renewed (in my opinion) innovation, coupled with some great strategic acquisitions (Integrien, SpringSource, and TriCipher) makes me think they can move from being a company that simply virtualizes operating systems to a company that provides broader operating frameworks for both data centers and desktops.

I will definitely be keeping a close eye on this company, and on Project Horizon in particular, in the upcoming months

TASCer