Virtualisation is going to be big! Apart from the benefits for businesses in server consolidation, virtualisation also is promising for software developers in utilising virtual appliances: "preconfigured, pre-installed virtual machine that includes the operating system and the application, all encapsulated in a virtual machine so that people can take a virtual appliance and install it", with out installing the operating system, configuring the operating system and the application".
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Check out VMWares virtual appliance marketplace for examples of virtual appliances.