Citrix Rides A Wave Of Virtualization Success

Share And Share Alike?

Through the years, Citrix and Microsoft have had what could be described as an uneasy alliance. Citrix has built its current business by extending access and management capabilities stemming from Microsoft server software; Microsoft seeking to capture its own share of revenue from that model, has extended its own product offerings in vrtualization and terminal services. At the same time, though, the companies have continued to share critical code and technology and Microsoft has opened new doors for Citrix even as it has closed others.

1989: Citrix incorporates in Delaware, makes its headquaters in Texas after being founded by Edward Iacobucci, a former IBM executive

1990: Licenses OS/2 from Microsoft and debuts Citrix Multiuser OS/2

1992: Reaches agreement with Microsoft to license Windows NT Server

1993: Ships WinView for Networks based on Microsoft OS

1995: Launches Citrix WinFrame

1997: After threatening to let Citrix's licensing expire, Microsoft reaches agreement with Citrix on a five-year joint marketing/development and licensing deal of Citrix MultiWin. The $175 million deal averts a catastrophe for Citrix.

1998: Citrix ships MetaFrame application server application server software and opens a development facility in Redmond, Wash., near Microsoft's headquaters.

2001: Microsoft and EMC sign up for the Citrix Business Alliance; Citrix launches Citrix MetFrame XP for Windows.

2002: With the 1997 deal about to sunset, Citrix and Microsoft sign a new pact, giving Citrix access to critical Windows server OS code.

2004: Citrix and Microsoft enter into a new, five-year deal aimed at allowing Citrix to extend its capabilities and access solutions for Microsoft's then-forthcoming Longhorn server operating system (now called Windows Server 2008.)

2008: With Microsoft planning to launch its own, propietary virtualization technology for Servr 2008 which could ostenibly compete with technology Citrix acquired by buying XenSource the two companies once again sign a new, expansive cooperation deal for server and desktop virtualization.