VMware, Inc., the global leader in virtualization solutions from the desktop through the datacenter and to the cloud today announced it is offering its VMware vSphere Essentials product package at up to 50% off the list price* through June 15, 2010.

With a low up-front investment, vSphere Essentials delivers enterprise-class virtualization capabilities that enable small offices to consolidate and manage application workloads while reducing hardware and operating costs.  Through this promotion, VMware will offer SMBs award-winning virtualization starting at less than $500. 

“VMware vSphere allows SMBs to do more with less,” said Timothy Stephan, senior director, product marketing, VMware. “We’ve helped thousands of SMB customers more effectively utilize their storage, network and computing resources to control costs and respond more quickly to business demand.  With this promotion, we are happy to make the benefits of virtualization more affordable for offices of all sizes.”

As the global leader in virtualization, VMware offers a complete range of solutions for SMBs that make high-performance server virtualization, centralized management, high availability and data protection affordable. vSphere Essentials is ideal for businesses with fewer than 20 physical servers, and customers can seamlessly upgrade the scale and functionality of the product at any time.

Customers can purchase vSphere Essentials for the promotional price online or with a VMware partner at http://www.vmware.com/go/affordable.

For more information on VMware virtualization solutions for SMBs, please visit: http://www.vmware.com/solutions/smb/.