Price rise for VMware too

Virtualisation vendor VMware has confirmed that, like fellow US-based software giant Citrix, it is currently raising its prices in countries outside the United States due to the declining value of the US dollar.

This morning ZDNet.com.au revealed Citrix was hiking prices by 10 per cent in all countries except the US, due to the US dollar's weakness, with most changes to come into effect by 1 September.

Subsequently, industry sources revealed VMware was also raising its prices.

"In line with regular industry business practice, VMware is adjusting its international price list to appropriately reflect these recent currency fluctuations in local markets relative to the US dollar," VMWare senior director of pricing, licensing and launch management Ryan Knauss confirmed this afternoon.

"We are currently informing our partners and customers and will complete the transition by early September. There is no change to our pricing in markets that use the US dollar."

Like Citrix, VMware blamed the price rise, the amount which was not disclosed, on the US dollar.

"VMware's list prices for products are in US dollars, which has weakened significantly relative to most international currencies in recent months," said Knauss. "For example, the US dollar has declined against the Euro over the last year by nearly 15 per cent."

Many other corporate technology vendors which sell products in the Australian market have their headquarters in the US (for example, giants Oracle and Cisco), however, it remains unclear how many are planning imminent price increases in line with those revealed today by Citrix and VMware.

Has your US-based technology supplier hit you with a price increase in recent months? Drop ZDNet.com.au a line. We'll keep your tips anonymous.

Talkback 3 comments

    Bl00dy Typicial John -- 16/08/08

    They want us to pay in USD when it is strong, they suddenly realise they aren't getting enough out of our pockets because of the change in exchange rates so they hike the price. I can guarantee they will not lower the price if the equation goes the other way.

    This doesn't make sense Anonymous -- 17/08/08

    Why should they raise prices when the US Dollar *weakens*?

    Let's say the Aussie Dollar used to trade at 2AUD=1USD. Then a software package sold in Australia for AUD 200 would give the company USD 100.

    Now the US Dollar has weakened against the Aussie so that (say) 1AUD = 1USD. So the same software package sold for the same price in Australia (AUD 200) would now give the company USD 200 instead of USD 100!

    They're actually making more money in US Dollars when the US Dollar weakens? Why are they raising prices?

    Or are we merely in an oligopolistic market with unscrupulous vendors seizing on any opportunity and market ignorance to make more money?

    Ganesh Prasad

    Im no economist but... Anonymous -- 18/08/08 (in reply to #320109946)

    I was originally agreeing with you. If they sold it at the same price they get more money from International customers. But I think the thing is here that the price for the software is in USD. So as the USD weakens the price looks more and more attractive for international customers. This increases demand. Theres a balance to be found to maximize revenue. Whist there international sales have probably gone up with demand and thus also revenue, more revenue maybe found by reducing the demand and increasing the price. If the right balance had been established before the USD started to decline, the new balance would be found by increasing prices.

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