In its new report, IDC (News - Alert) has evaluated the current capabilities and long-term strategies of 12 desktop virtualization software vendors.

This IDC study represents the vendor assessment model called IDC MarketScape. This research is a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the characteristics that explain a vendor's success in the marketplace.

By analyzing their current capabilities as well as their long-term strategies that impact their ability to provide solutions and gain market share going forward, the report, IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Desktop Virtualization 2011 Vendor Analysis (Doc #228619), evaluates vendors in the desktop virtualization space. Offering a graphical illustration of each vendor's position in the competitive landscape, it utilizes a scoring and ranking model based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria.

“Customers are intrigued by the possibility of a better desktop management model and the operational savings desktop virtualization could deliver," said Ian Song, senior research analyst, Enterprise Virtualization Software. “Many vendors have emerged to provide solutions and desktop virtualization products are now available from small start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. In turn, customers are concerned about the capability and viability of each vendor's solution.”

Highlighting the differentiators that play a role in each participant's competitive placement, the study is supported by a discussion of the key criteria that contribute to a vendor's current and future success in the market. Among the vendors evaluated in the report, IDC placed just one, Citrix, in the "Leaders" category. IDC placed seven vendors in the "Major Players" category; Desktone, Kaviza, Microsoft (News - Alert), MokaFive, Quest Software, Virtual Bridges, and VMware.