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VMware Offers Fusion and Workstation Software Free for All Users

VMware has made a significant shift in its software pricing strategy, announcing that its Fusion and Workstation applications, which are commonly used to create and manage virtual machines, are now free for all users, including commercial clients. This change, effective from Monday, follows the company’s earlier decision to provide free access for personal users earlier this year. Notably, the Pro versions of Fusion (designed for Macs) and Workstation (used on Windows and Linux) will no longer be available for purchase.

This move comes on the heels of Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware for $61 billion in 2022, which marked one of the largest tech acquisitions in recent history. Since then, Broadcom has taken steps to streamline VMware’s product offerings, discontinuing numerous existing product lines in an effort to simplify its portfolio. Part of this strategy includes ending the provision of VMware’s perpetual licensing for standalone products to incentivize businesses to transition toward subscription-based models like Cloud Foundation or vSphere Foundation.

Despite these changes, reports indicate that many business customers are experiencing significant price increases since the acquisition. According to a report by Business Insider highlighted in an article by Tom’s Hardware, some corporations have reported price hikes as steep as 175 percent, leading one unnamed corporate client to describe the situation as being “held for ransom” due to the challenges of seeking alternative solutions.

For commercial users, ongoing contracts will still provide the same level of support until their expiration. However, VMware is set to discontinue its support ticketing system for troubleshooting after contracts end, urging customers to seek assistance through community forums, documentation, and available support articles online instead.

Source
www.theverge.com