The use of virtualization technology offers "new hope" to companies with "stressed" IT budgets, according to an expert.
Kenneth Hess of Datamation.com has claimed that the concept's "seductive money-saving promise" will be attractive to businesses as they look to "collectively pull out of the recession".
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In a column for the website, he added that the technology will be part of every data centre in the world by the end of the decade.
"Companies of all sizes will either convert their physical infrastructures to virtual hosts and guests or they'll move to an entirely hosted virtual infrastructure," he explained.
"The global move to virtualization will also put pressure on computer manufacturers to deliver greener hardware for less green."
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Microsoft and HP recently announced plans to collaborate on new virtualization offerings.
The companies have agreed a three-year deal to work on a project that is expected to "simplify technology environments for businesses of all sizes".