VMware customers concerned over rising costs & licensing

A recent survey indicates that a significant portion of VMware customers, 79% to be precise, express satisfaction with their current software and would continue utilising perpetual licenses if such support were still available.

The research, titled "Insights and Strategies on VMware: Navigating the Evolving Hypervisor Market," was conducted in the third quarter of 2024 by Rimini Street, involving over 110 VMware customers.

This study aims to explore the responses of these customers to the changes brought about by Broadcom's acquisition, particularly concerning pricing and subscription models.

The survey underscores broad concerns among VMware customers over the shift from perpetual licenses to subscription models, as well as the bundling changes leading to price increases. These concerns were strong enough to prompt 98% of surveyed users to consider alternative hypervisors for part or all of their VMware infrastructures.

Rodney Kenyon, Group Vice President of Rimini Custom, commented on the results: "Giving up control over perpetual licenses due to forced vendor subscription models is like turning in keys to your paid-off home to rent the same house from a landlord. The results of this survey highlight that while VMware customers are happy with their software, they are concerned with price increases and changes in licensing, and are seeking alternative strategies."

The study further revealed that a staggering 92% of respondents anticipate additional VMware price hikes within the next 12 to 18 months. As a result, many customers are looking for strategies that allow them to retain control of their VMware roadmap. This includes seeking support for perpetually licensed software, with 99% of respondents expressing willingness to continue using such software if third-party support were accessible.

Additionally, the survey identified major trends that influence the hypervisor market.

Specifically, 71% of respondents see cloud-native solutions as a significant factor, while 70% recognise artificial intelligence (AI) as a notable impact. As these technologies evolve, the hypervisor market itself is transforming, encouraging users of perpetual licenses to extend the lifespan of their systems while examining new technological solutions.

Kenyon elaborated on the support Rimini Street offers: "With our award-winning, industry-leading support, Rimini Street has helped thousands of organisations around the world extend the life and value of their current enterprise software releases, including VMware."

"For organisations that prefer to maintain their existing VMware environment rather than pursue an alternative solution, third-party support offers a powerful option. We provide clients with comprehensive support and optimisation for their current software while also helping them define and execute strategic roadmap plans."

Rimini Street continues to offer expert guidance and strategic roadmap services to assist VMware users in evaluating and optimising costs and reducing complexity, enabling them to navigate the evolving landscape of AI and cloud hypervisor technologies.