It’s funny to read reports like the one IDC just produced. It makes you wonder, who writes them and where they get their information from… especially when you read the following:

VMware grew its x86 server virtualization software business 27% year over year and maintained the number 1 position in the market with 78% revenue share in 2Q08. When looking at new x86 virtualization licenses, VMware continues to hold on to its strong position in the x86 market with a combined market share of VMware ESX and VMware Server at 44%. However, in its first quarter of general availability Microsoft Hyper-V delivered a strong showing, and when combined with Virtual Server 2005, Microsoft’s market share is 23% of new shipments.

As I expected Microsoft jumped right on it and had their marketing department come up with some great statements:

Microsoft’s server virtualization software already has half of VMware’s share in the market.

But usual there’s a guy called Mike, and Mike well… Mike should start working for myth busters cause that’s what he does best… busting the Virtualization Marketing Myths:

First of all Microsoft didn’t all of a sudden grab market share. Last year was the first year of this report and Microsoft was reported as having 20% market share at the time by shipments. In Q1 2008 they dropped to 18% and now they’re back to 23%. In the course of a year they climbed 3%. This is probably just normal survey error at work. To back that up VMware showed a similar trend going from 51% in 2007 to 42% in Q1 2008 and now back up to 44% in Q2 2008.

Well, just continue to read Mike D’s response to the IDC report and MS article here…