We read with great interest this blog entry from DoubleCloud entitled, “Why Should ISVs Care About Virtual Appliances, A Personal Testimonial.” The author points out two main ways in which ISVs can leverage virtual appliances:

1. ISV’s can package their existing product as a virtual appliance. Packaging as a virtual appliance can simplify the delivery and deployment process (think cloud). And some applications may even run better in a virtualized environment.
2. Use application infrastructure virtual appliances to reduce development time, efforts, costs.

Good points and we agree. We’d also like to add a few other ways ISVs can leverage virtual appliances:

1. To save on hardware and CAPEX – this is true both internally for the ISV and for their customer.
2. To remain cool – virtual appliances and cloud computing are “bleeding edge” technologies. ISVs can use these new and exciting technologies to “spruce up” legacy client-server technologies that are getting a bit long-in-tooth.
3. To expand service offerings. Using virtual appliances, ISVs can expand their market coverage capabilities, increase sales, increase certifications, and differentiate. 

What other ways can ISVs leverage virtual appliances? How are you seeing the ISVs that you work with today using virtual appliances? Are there specific ISVs you’d like to see embrace virtual appliances?