A New Deal for Europe: Microsoft Unveils Consumption-Based Licensing for Windows Server

Microsoft has announced a significant change to its licensing model for Windows Server in Europe, introducing a new “Cloud-Optimized” option that allows local cloud providers to offer the ubiquitous operating system on a pay-as-you-go basis.² This move, which directly addresses long-standing complaints of anti-competitive behavior, is a major concession aimed at leveling the playing field…

Read More

A Final Reprieve: Microsoft Announces Paid Extended Security Updates for Exchange and Skype Servers

Microsoft has officially announced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a six-month window of continued security patches beyond the products’ end-of-support date. The move is a direct response to customer feedback, providing a crucial, albeit temporary, lifeline for organizations that are in the process of migrating but…

Read More

The Price of Freedom: Confronting the Sustainability Crisis in Open Source

The modern digital world, a multi-trillion dollar economy of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and global connectivity, is built upon a foundation that is paradoxically both immensely powerful and dangerously fragile. This foundation is free and open-source software (FOSS), a vast ecosystem of tools and components often maintained by a handful of volunteers. For decades, the…

Read More

Oracle’s Database@AWS Launch Signals Multicloud Pivot While Preserving License Revenue Streams

Oracle’s recent launch of Database@AWS represents a fundamental strategic shift that simultaneously embraces multicloud flexibility while ingeniously preserving the company’s lucrative perpetual licensing model. The general availability announcement, coupled with aggressive Bring Your Own License (BYOL) incentives offering 76% cost savings, reveals a sophisticated approach to maintaining market relevance in an increasingly cloud-native world while…

Read More

VMware Extended Support Lifecycles Signal Strategic Retreat Amid Customer Backlash

In a significant strategic pivot that reflects mounting enterprise resistance to Broadcom’s aggressive licensing overhaul, VMware has fundamentally altered its product development approach by extending release cycles from two to three years while simultaneously expanding support lifecycles. The changes, announced alongside the general availability of VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0, represent what industry analysts characterize as…

Read More

Microsoft’s Concessions to European Cloud Providers: A Stalling Tactic or a Step to Fair Competition?

A recent agreement between Microsoft and Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) has brought a new chapter to the long-running saga of antitrust scrutiny faced by the software giant in the region.[2] After a formal complaint was filed in November 2022, Microsoft has offered a series of concessions aimed at appeasing European cloud providers…

Read More

Oracle Java Audits Surge: 73% of Users Targeted as Licensing Changes Drive Mass Migration to Open Source

A startling new survey has revealed the extent of Oracle’s aggressive audit campaign targeting Java users, with nearly three out of four organizations reporting they have been audited within the past three years. The findings, which paint a picture of an industry under siege from escalating compliance costs and licensing complexity, are driving an unprecedented…

Read More

VMware Reboots Partner Program Again: Smaller Cloud Providers Face Uncertain Future

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the virtualization industry, VMware has announced the second major overhaul of its partner program in just 18 months, effectively ending the current channel program and transitioning to a new invitation-only model that will exclude many smaller cloud service providers. The announcement, which came with little advance warning,…

Read More

The Hire and License Out (HALO) Effect

Since AI became mainstream, a new type of transaction has emerged that is fundamentally changing how tech giants acquire talent and technology. These deals, dubbed “HALO” transactions, an acronym for “Hire and License Out”, represent a novel approach to talent acquisition that shares characteristics of both traditional hiring and corporate acquisitions, yet isn’t quite either[1].…

Read More

Telefónica Germany Ditches Broadcom, Opts for Third-Party VMware Support

In a move that sends a clear signal to the rest of the industry, Telefónica Germany, one of the country’s largest telecommunications providers, has dropped direct VMware support from Broadcom.² The company has instead signed a multi-year deal with third-party support specialist Support Revolution.¹ This decision reflects the growing dissatisfaction among large enterprise customers following…

Read More

Denmark Pioneers Revolutionary Copyright Protection Against AI Deepfakes

In a groundbreaking move that could reshape how the world approaches artificial intelligence regulation, Denmark is poised to become the first European nation to grant its citizens copyright protection over their own faces, voices, and bodies. The proposed legislation, spearheaded by Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, represents a novel approach to combating the growing threat of…

Read More

Rimini Street and Oracle Reach Historic Settlement, Ending 15-Year Legal Battle

After more than a decade and a half of contentious litigation, enterprise software support company Rimini Street, Inc. (NASDAQ: RMNI) and technology giant Oracle Corporation have reached a confidential settlement agreement that may finally bring closure to one of the software industry’s most protracted legal disputes. The settlement, announced on July 7, 2025, resolves the…

Read More

A New Deal for DC: GSA and Oracle Ink Landmark “Whole-of-Government” Agreement

The US General Services Administration (GSA) has brokered a landmark, five-year “whole-of-government” agreement with Oracle, fundamentally changing how the federal government buys the tech giant’s products and services.¹ This first-of-its-kind deal for Oracle establishes a single, comprehensive procurement vehicle that consolidates the immense buying power of the entire US government. It aims to simplify purchasing,…

Read More

Microsoft System Center 2022 vs 2025: Features, Licensing, and Pricing Comparison

Microsoft System Center 2025 represents a significant evolution in datacenter management, building upon the solid foundation established by System Center 2022 while introducing enhanced security, modernization capabilities, and Azure integration features. Released on November 6, 2024, System Center 2025 delivers infrastructure modernization and enhanced security to help organizations manage complex IT environments more effectively [1].…

Read More

Microsoft SQL Server 2022 vs 2025: Features, Licensing, and Pricing Comparison

Microsoft’s SQL Server 2025 represents a transformative leap in database technology, positioning itself as the premier AI-ready enterprise database platform. With groundbreaking vector data types, enhanced cloud integration, and substantial performance improvements, SQL Server 2025 builds upon the solid foundation established by SQL Server 2022 while introducing capabilities that enable modern AI-powered applications [1]. This…

Read More

Windows Server 2022 vs 2025: Features, Licensing, and Pricing Comparison

Windows Server 2022 vs 2025: A Comprehensive Comparison of Features, Licensing, and Pricing Microsoft’s Windows Server 2025 introduces significant enhancements over Windows Server 2022, with modernized features, enhanced security, and updated pricing structures. This comparison examines the key differences to help organizations make informed infrastructure decisions. New Features in Windows Server 2025 Windows Server 2025…

Read More

Oracle’s SE2 Clarification: A Hidden Compliance Trap for MCM Processor Users

Oracle Database Standard Edition 2 (SE2) has long been positioned as a cost-effective database offering for smaller workloads, with a key licensing limitation: no more than two sockets per server. On paper, this seems simple. But the reality of modern processor design—specifically the use of Multi-Chip Modules (MCMs)—introduces significant compliance risk for those not aware…

Read More