The last few weeks Microsoft has been revving its engine and flexing its muscle all before VMworld approaches the starting line. What does it all mean for the future of the virtualization market? It all started a few weeks ago on February 4 when a Cnet article announced how EMC and Microsoft are extending their strategic partnership another three years since the initial agreement was forged in 2006.

Then what seemed to be odd timing, Reuters released a story on February 12 which described Cisco’s interest in the virtualization player. A week later RedHat announced that they have signed a reciprocal agreement with Microsoft to help increase interoperability for the companies’ virtualization platforms. And now this week, as VMworld kicks off in Cannes France, Citrix announced that they are rolling out a new product called “Citrix Essentials” that integrates with XenServer and Microsoft's Hyper-V.

So, what does this all mean for the virtualization market? Clearly, Microsoft has their aim set on knocking off the king of the mountain and appears they are aggressively strengthening their alliances to help increase the share of the virtualization market. Could this lead what is likely to be expected as the year of consolidation? With the economy taking its toll on stock holder prices all of the sudden companies are more affordable in addition to their attractiveness. However, it isn’t likely there will be a clear winner anytime soon as the virtualization market still has plenty of room to feed everyone but one thing that is clear is there is an increasing need to move, protect and optimize workloads on a more efficient and flexible Dynamic Infrastructure.

Virtualization is only part of the technology to continue to be adopted to help data center managers reduce cost in 2009. With the addition of Blade Technology, cheaper more flexible iSCSI storage solutions, WAN optimization products like Silver-Peak and Riverbed and workload optimization products like Double-Take Software data center managers will have improved ability to not only manage and backup their infrastructure workloads more efficiently but at the same time reduce server footprint and power and cooling requirements as well. All of the above technologies will continue to support the year of consolidation trend for 2009 as well as continue to adapt over the years to help further reduce IT spending.