[German]I have heard a rumor that VMware by Broadcom could announce the release of free use of VMware Workstation for business users on November 11, 2024.
VMware Workstation for 25 years
VMware Workstation Pro is a desktop virtualization solution from the US company VMware by Broadcom that runs on Linux and Windows (the version for macOS is called VMware Fusion). With VMware Workstation, virtual machines can be created and used to run operating systems such as Windows or Linux.
VMware Workstation has been around for 25 years, the first version was released in 1999 (source Wikipedia) – my first book "VMware Workstation Praxisführer – Installation, Konfiguration, Anwendung unter Windows und Linux" was published by SuSE Press Germany in 2001.
The product has had an eventful history since its launch and was always subject to a charge in the past. For a few years, however, VMware Player was available as a slimmed-down version that was free for personal use.
However, since the takeover of VMware by Broadcom, everything concerning the product line has taken a turn for the worse. For example, VMware Server ESXi was discontinued as a virtualization solution in a purchase version. However, at the beginning of 2024, there were assurances that VMware Player, VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion would remain as products (see my blog post After discontinuation: VMware Player, Workstation and Fusion seems to remain and this VMware article).
VMware Workstation Pro "free for Personal use"
In May 2024, I was completely surprised to hear that VMware by Broadcom had released the use of VMware Workstation Pro and VMware Fusion Pro for "personal use". This means that users have been able to use these two desktop virtualization products on Linux, macOS and Windows for non-commercial purposes free of charge since then.
For commercial use, however, VMware Workstation Pro or VMware Fusion Pro had to be purchased from VMware. However, for some time now it no longer seems possible to purchase new VMware Workstation Pro licenses.
VMware by Broadcom has a successor solution VMware Desktop Hypervisor Pro. This product replaces VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion, but is only available as a "subscription" for Windows, Linux or macOS including support. So much for the following information.
VMware Workstation Pro free for commercial use soon?
I heard that VMware by Broadcom is planning an announcement next Monday, November 11, 2024. The product VMware Workstation Pro (and presumably VMware Fusion Pro), which is already "free for personal use", will also be released for free use in business environments.
If I put the information from the above text together, a coherent picture emerges: The sale of VMware Workstation Pro as a purchase license has been discontinued and there is a successor product VMware Desktop Hypervisor Pro, which is available on a subscription basis.
Then the existing VMware Workstation Pro can also be generally released for free use. The "damage" caused by purchases that no longer take place should be marginal. Buyers of a VMware Workstation Pro would be covered anyway – anyone who needs a new desktop virtualization with support would have to go for the subscription solution VMware Desktop Hypervisor Pro.
Ergo, you can still generate some media attention by releasing the existing VMware Workstation Pro for free "business use". In my opinion, however, the whole thing is unlikely to really take off. I can well imagine that VMware by Broadcom will no longer update the product and expand its functionality.
In addition, there have already been some functional announcements with the update to VMware Workstation Pro 17.6. According to the release notes, Unity Mode and Bluetooth Hub Passthrough have been dropped. VMware Tools are also no longer supplied as an ISO.
Now we have to wait and see if and what will be announced on November 11, 2024 and what future VMware Workstation Pro will still have. Addendum: It's confirmed, see my blog post VMware Fusion and Workstation now free for all
Similar articles:
After discontinuation: VMware Player, Workstation and Fusion seems to remain
VMware Workstation/Fusion Personal Use-Mode bestätigt, Schwachstellen vorhanden, fehlende Lizenzen im Broadcom-Portal
VMware Workstation 17.6: Installation problem on non-English Windows
