Quoting from the Symantec official announcement:
Symantec Corp. today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Altiris, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRS), a leading provider of IT management software that enables businesses to easily manage and service network-based endpoints – from mobile devices, laptops, and desktops to servers and storage assets. Under the terms of the agreement, Altiris stockholders will receive $33 per share of Altiris common stock in cash, resulting in a transaction value of approximately $830 million net-of-cash-acquired. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory and Altiris stockholder approvals, and is expected to close in the second calendar quarter of 2007…
Symantec is acquiring Altiris for its enterprise management portfolio. But even if barely mentioned in the press release, Altiris is highly involved in application virtualization too, with its Software Virtualization Solution (SVS).
This acquisition may lead to SVS premature end-of-life considering Symantec declared interests, or a big improvement.
In both cases it’s particularly important because highlights how fast the application virtualization market is consolidating: Microsoft acquired Softricity while Citrix acquired Ardence.
At this point if Symantec is seriously interested in application virtualization may acquire AppStream as well, which is already integrating with Altiris SVS to provide application virtualization and streaming.
Meanwhile, by chance, former Symantec Regional Director, David Blackman, leaves the company to cover the role of Channels Director in VMware.
This position has been created for Blackman specifically (as CRN is reporting), which means VMware could be preparing to enter the security market (as supposed since first sight of VMware Integrity) and steal some customers to Symantec.
The Virtualization Industry Radar has been updated accordingly.