Zimbra customers applaud VMware acquisition

15.01.2010
Zimbra customers, on an emotional roller-coaster ride since it was acquired by Yahoo, welcome VMware's plans to buy the open-source e-mail, calendar and collaboration software vendor.

Many of them were vexed when Yahoo snapped up Zimbra for US$350 million in September 2007, concerned that the Zimbra suite might wilt and disappear due to Yahoo's inexperience in the enterprise software market.

Months later, when Microsoft launched its hostile attempt to buy Yahoo, the uncertainty worsened among many Zimbra customers who had migrated away from Exchange, couldn't afford it or simply didn't like it.

Although Microsoft withdrew its offer for Yahoo, the companies eventually struck a search advertising and technology deal that again brought Microsoft into the picture for Zimbra customers.

Then in September of last year, rumors started floating that Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz was actively seeking a buyer for Zimbra, which again caused uncertainty over the future of the suite.

This week, customers who felt uncomfortable about Yahoo owning Zimbra let out a sigh of relief when VMware, a major player in the virtualization software market, announced its agreement to buy Zimbra. Their investment in the Zimbra suite will be more secure with a parent company that is an enterprise software vendor and views Zimbra as a key part of its portfolio, customers said.