HPE offers year of free virtualization software to lure VMware users
HPE's new promotion provides free VM Essentials licenses for one year, aiming to encourage VMware customers to migrate, but partner reactions are mixed.
HPE has launched a promotion offering free virtualization software licenses for one year to incentivize migration from VMware. This move is part of HPE's strategy to become a more attractive alternative for companies considering leaving VMware amid rising costs and migration challenges.
According to HPE EVP and CTO Fidelma Russo, a major obstacle is the double expense period – customers pay for both existing and new software during migration. The promotion aims to alleviate this burden.
Partner reactions are divided. Dean Colpitts, CTO of Canadian managed services provider MITG, which VMware cut from its reseller program after 19 years of partnership, doubts the promotion will boost sales significantly. He notes customers operate on long decision cycles (three to five years) and often roll the free license into the initial purchase. Additionally, hardware shortages and high DRAM prices hinder migration.
In contrast, San Diego-based Nth Generation, one of HPE's largest channel partners, expects a substantial sales increase. Co-president and CTO Dan Molina believes the promotion drastically lowers the risk of switching to VM Essentials, predicting sales could quadruple.
HPE also announced it will give 600 reseller partners who achieve the Private Cloud with Virtualization competency by year-end free VM Essentials licenses for three years, though support costs remain. Colpitts calls this limit shortsighted, urging HPE to provide licenses to all partners to accelerate market displacement of competitors.
