Things That Make You Go Hmmmm – VMware Bans Competitors from VMworld 2009?
May 28th, 2009 | 
Author: [updated 052809 - VMware will allow competition to present and exhibit at VMworld 2009. See VM /ETC post Things That Make You Go Hmmmm - VMware Sets Record Straight On Competition At VMworld]
It’s been a while since I’ve been inspired to add to my “Things that make you go Hmmmm” series, but Brian Madden’s post about VMware’s change in the VMworld 2009 Sponsor and Exhibitor agreement has temporarily rekindled my motivation. In summary, Brian points out that the new agreement verbiage states that products deemed by VMware that overlap or substitute with/for VMware’s products will not be allowed in sessions or on the exhibition floor. I could not find the referenced agreement on the VMworld 2009 Sponsors and Exhibitors page.
Read Brian’s post:
For shame! VMware is now banning competing vendors’ products from VMworld! – Brian Madden – BrianMadden.com
He has some strong opinions on the matter:
“What kind of crazy world is VMware living in? Do they think that by denying that competition exists, more people will be tricked into buying their stuff?And what’s this mean for VMworld? No Microsoft. No Citrix. No Neocleus or Virtual Computer. No InstallFree or Xenocode. No Symantec or Quest. VMworld 2009 will just be a big rah rah hug-fest.”
Personally, I can understand VMware’s decision, but it still sits funny with me. VMworld’s popularity and draw was no doubt based on the open door policy for all virtualization vendors making it a virtualization community wide event. Obviously, market competition has influenced the business decision to allow this to continue. This will be a PR nightmare if handled wrong. I’m sure the competition is loading their marketing cannons with this new ammo as quick as possible.
updated 052809 - Scott Lowe offers his opinions and projections on the topic with his post VMware, This is Wrong:
“What are you going to do, VMware? Let’s see, you’re expanding into the territory formerly handled by many of your ISVs, and now you’re blocking access to competing products at VMworld.”
updated 052809 - Marc Farley offers an understanding view of VMware’s decision with his post The end of free love at VMworld? Ok
Looking for a silver lining, this decision could have a positive effect on
conference logistics and crowd control and satisfaction. VMworld attendance has soared in numbers each year, and it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to assume that attendance could reach 20,000 in 2009 or 2010. Can the Moscone Center in San Francisco handle those size crowds? IMO, Moscone couldn’t handle the 10 to 12 K attendees in 2007 very well. Limiting vendor participation is one way to reduce the number of people at the conference. Let’s face it, reducing the number of attendees results in a greater experience for the conference goers, but this is just one, outside rationalization.
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Tags: things that make you go hmmmm, vmworld 2009, vmworld2009
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