Citrix users will have to pay 10% more for their Citrix
Xenserver virtualisation software, Metaframe Windows thin client
software and NetScaler network acceleration tools from
September.
The supplier has sent a
letter to its authorised
distributors across Europe, Middle East and Africa, giving them
advanced notice of the increase.
Citrix blamed the price hike on rising costs of doing business
globally, following the falling value of the US dollar (upon which
Citrix pricing is based) compared to other currencies.
It comes despite booming profits at Citrix. In the second
quarter of 2008 Citrix reported double-digit growth, with the EMEA
region of 22%, making £68m in revenue.
The price increase could lead to Citrix users looking at
alternative technologies. Some companies have actively moved away
from Citrix - because of the cost of licensing the Metaframe
product - and have adopted Microsoft's Terminal Services, which is
built into Windows Server 2008.
For instance, earlier this year
Tube Lines, which maintains the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadily
London Underground lines, looked at the free Terminal Services
software bundled with Microsoft Windows Server as an alternative to
Citrix Metaframe software.
At the time, Adrian Davey, head of IT at Tube Lines told
Computer Weekly, "I was frustrated that we had to use Citrix to
[provide PC desktop] software at remote sites. We needed both
Citrix and Microsoft Windows Server licences."
Through Microsoft's early adopter programme, he asked Microsoft
to assess how Tube Lines could replace Citrix. "By working with
Microsoft we have developed a Terminal Services product, which
long-term, could enable us to get rid of our Citrix Metaframe
server farm."
