, ▁E MC ▁acquired ▁VM ware ▁for ▁$ 6 3 5 ▁million . ▁ ▁Late ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁V ER IT AS ▁acquired ▁E jas cent ▁for ▁$ 5 9 ▁million . ▁ ▁November ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁Microsoft ▁releases ▁Microsoft ▁Virtual ▁PC , ▁which ▁is ▁machine - level ▁virtual ization ▁technology , ▁to ▁ease ▁the ▁transition ▁to ▁Windows ▁XP . ▁▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁ ▁H P ▁releases ▁Integr ity ▁Virtual ▁Mach ines ▁ 1 . 0 ▁and ▁ 1 . 2 ▁which ▁ran ▁only ▁H P - U X ▁ ▁October ▁ 2 4 , ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁VM ware ▁releases ▁VM ware ▁Player , ▁a ▁free ▁player ▁for ▁virtual ▁machines , ▁to ▁the ▁masses . ▁ ▁Sun ▁releases ▁Sol aris ▁( oper ating ▁system ) ▁ 1 0 , ▁including ▁Sol aris ▁Z ones , ▁for ▁both ▁x 8 6 / x 6 4 ▁and ▁SP AR C ▁systems ▁▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁ ▁July ▁ 1 2 , ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁VM ware ▁releases ▁VM ware ▁Server , ▁a ▁free ▁machine - level ▁virtual ization ▁product ▁for ▁the ▁server ▁market . ▁ ▁Microsoft ▁Virtual ▁PC ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁is ▁released ▁as ▁a ▁free ▁program , ▁also ▁in ▁July . ▁ ▁July ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁Microsoft ▁bought ▁Sof tr icity . ▁ ▁August ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁VM ware ▁announ ces ▁of ▁the