VMware has announced it will offer sole access to VMware Workstation and Fusion for all users
VMware has announced it will offer sole access to VMware Workstation and Fusion for all users—a large shift in their software distribution model, according to a report from Breaking News. The shift means no more commercial licenses for these virtualization tools, and this is all because the company made them available to everyone.
Workstation and Fusion Price Explained
This bold move brings several immediate benefits:
- Free professional-grade virtualization tools
- All features are now available to everyone
- A smooth process for leaving commercial users
- A level playing field with educational institutions
This has happened in coordination with Broadcom's acquisition of VMware and signifies a wider change in business direction for them. Those who have current commercial contracts will still receive enterprise support until their contracts come to an end.
Let's look deeper at what this means for users:
Benefits:
- Small businesses don't need to worry about paying
- Allows for wider deployment in educational settings
- Both paid and free versions remain the same
Points to consider:
Now that paid support options are no longer available, questions arise about long-term product maintenance. Every user should carefully analyze their needs:
- How will critical issues be resolved with no official support?
- When will there be future updates to these products?
- Is community support a government fill-in for professional services?
Earlier, the transition to perpetual licenses stirred up industry discussions. This new free software announcement could indicate Broadcom is reevaluating VMware's revenue flows.
For businesses relying on these tools:
- Note down your existing processes
- Develop in-house knowledge
- Explore backups — how could they work for you?
- Prepare for various transition scenarios
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