At VMworld Europe 2011 we heard a lot about vSphere, the Cloud Foundry platform as a service (PaaS), Horizon Mobile, and virtualisation management tools, but next to nothing about desktop virtualisation.

Does this sparse talk about desktop virtualisation signify that VMware is shifting away from VDI and looking to a future of mobile and social enterprise?

In his keynote, VMware chief executive Paul Maritz outlined the company’s key investment areas including efforts in cloud and mobile virtualisation.

VMware’s initiative in the cloud space includes its partnerships in community cloud in the healthcare and financial services space as well as its work with cloud service providers such as Colt, CSC, SingTel and Verizon among others.

Maritz also spoke about Cloud Foundry - which he described as the “Linux for the cloud era”, insisting that cloud should not be based on highly proprietary systems or limited to a single vendor. “Cloud should facilitate applications portability in a cross-cloud, multi-cloud world,” he said.

Separately, VMware announced its strategic partnership with telecommunications company Telefónica to deliver VMware Horizon Mobile and allow users to access a virtual (Android-based) enterprise phone on their personal Android smartphone.

The virtual work phone will be controlled by the enterprise. “A user installing a hacked version of a game on their personal phone will not affect the security of the work phone,” Maritz said.

“We need to go beyond desktop virtualisation in a post-pc multi device world,” he said. “We are going to make investment in a new set of tools as users are no longer tethered behind their desks or using heavy-weight desk based machines.” He also explained the role of its Horizon App Manager.

The Hands-on Labs space at the event, which Maritz described as the “heart of the conference”, also focused on VMware’s cloud initiatives, server virtualisation, email collaboration tools, management suites, and mobile virtualisation.

In short, at VMworld Europe 2011, VMware highlighted every aspect of its portfolio except VDI. Was this just coincidence - or does it signal a deeper trend? Please share your thoughts.

Checkout our VMworld Europe 2011 conference coverage here.

Archana Venkatraman is the Site Editor for SearchVirtualDataCentre.co.UK