Cloud Computing: Microsoft Quietly Gains Share in Virtualization
June 1, 2013
Grazed from Wall Street Journal. Author: Steven D. Jones.
Virtualization underpins the shift to cloud computing, which makes more efficient use of servers by pooling their resources. The software allows companies to run multiple computers on a single machine, saving hardware cost and handling tasks from banking to retail.
Redmond, Wash-based Microsoft introduced its HyperV virtualization software in 2008 and has climbed to second in the $5 billion market behind industry leader VMware Inc. VMW -0.53% of Palo Alto, Calif. “We’re now in a situation where we have a very, very strong market share. We’re growing every quarter, and the dominant guy is losing every quarter as it relates to virtualization,” Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner said at an investment conference this week. VMware said no one was available to comment…
Success with virtualization software could help Microsoft win more lucrative cloud-software business as well. “We have a really powerful flywheel, if you will, to continue to gain momentum in the enterprise cloud space,” Mr. Turner said. Last year, Microsoft HyperV was installed on 27.6% of the new computer servers put into service, according to data tracker IDC, up from 20.3% in 2008. VMware is still the dominant company in the market with 56.8% share, but that’s down from 65.4% in 2008. Competitors Citrix Systems Inc. and Red Hat Inc. RHT +0.77% both had smaller shares…
Read more from the source @ http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/05/31/microsoft-quietly-gains-share-in-virtualization/