Virtual machine developer VMware will make an announcement on Aug. 7 in conjunction with Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. VMware said it would give demonstrations to the press a few hours after Steve Job’s keynote address.
A company spokesperson would not comment on what VMware would announce, but it is likely that the Palo Alto, Calif., company will demonstrate a Mac version of its virtualization product for running Windows on Intel-powered Macs.
A VMware virtual machine product would be a strong competitor to Parallels Desktop.
Click here to read more about Parallels’ Desktop for Mac virtualization software.
There is also speculation that VMware will demonstrate Windows Vista running in Mac OS X under VMware. Parallels Desktop currently will not run the Windows Vista Beta, which does not support ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface), which Vista uses.
A spokesperson from Parallels, in Herndon, Va., said Parallels is aware that VMware will give a demonstration at WWDC, but would not comment on whether Parallels would also be making an announcement.
Another possibility is that VMware will demonstrate a Mac OS X version of VMware Server for an upcoming Intel version of Apple Computer’s Xserve.
Click here to read an eWEEK Labs review of VMware Server 1.0.
Apple’s server product currently uses the PowerPC G5 processor, but Apple has previously announced that all Mac lines would switch to Intel by the end of 2006.
At WWDC, Apple will for the first time unveil the next version of Mac OS X, known as Leopard.
Check out eWEEK.com’s for the latest news, reviews and analysis on Apple in the enterprise.