Microsoft to help customers get virtual now

Microsoft and Press release

REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 19, 2008 — New licensing, expanded product support policies and a worldwide series of events from Microsoft Corp. help business customers create more dynamic datacenters and enterprise IT systems with virtualization software. Beginning Sept. 1, 2008, customers will be able to move any of 41 Microsoft server applications between servers within a server farm as often as necessary without paying additional licensing fees, and they can take advantage of expanded specialized technical support.

“Businesses are taking steps to make their IT operations more dynamic and are delving into virtualization as a cornerstone strategy,” said Zane Adam, senior director of integrated virtualization in the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft. “Microsoft recognizes this and is innovating its licensing policies, product support and a wide range of IT solutions to help customers get virtual now.”

To highlight the recent innovations in virtualization, Microsoft also will begin a worldwide series of “Get Virtual Now” events this month that will showcase Microsoft virtualization products and partner solutions, reaching more than 250,000 IT professionals.

Very cool, Microsoft getting more involved in virtualization can only further enhance end users movement to a virtual environment and open up further opportunities, extra functionality and hopefully best practice. Any improvements in validation, in support of applications in a virtual configuration has to be a good thing for the virtual movement. Do check it out.