I know that I have mentioned application virtualization as a potential "next big thing" here a couple of times, but with Microsoft getting seriously into the field now I think its time is about due. Unfortunately it will, at least using their implementation, be restricted primarily to the enterprise, but with the gap they are leaving at the lower end of the market competitors are sure to step up and serve all those "less than 250" desktop organizations.

Announced last week on the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) blog, the upcoming release of version 4.5 of App-V as a part of the larger corporate virtualization campaign will likely mark the beginning of mainstream adoption for the technology. The company's application virtualization product, built out of acquisition Softgrid's technology and demonstrated convincingly at its recent Get Virtual launch event, presents a seamless user experience that is easily managed and offers considerable advantages to IT departments. With System Center (also shaping up to be a formidable product), App-V solves a whole raft of patching, licensing, and deployment problems which commonly suck money and vitality from IT.