VMware -- which specializes in virtualization and cloud infrastructure -- has announced VMware Fusion 5, which boasts over 70 new features for a "Windows on Mac" experience. In addition, VMware is introducing VMware Fusion 5 Professional with new capabilities designed to improve the way businesses and IT deliver applications to users on Macs and PCs.

"While the number of users adopting Macs continue to rise, the business environment is still dominated by Windows," says Jason Joel, director, personal products, VMware. "VMware Fusion 5 and Fusion 5 Professional build upon our award-winning platform, adding new capabilities that are in demand among both individual and professional users. Leveraging our experience with consumer and enterprise end-users, we believe this new version of the product is the best solution on the market for users who want to run Windows on Mac simultaneously."

The VMware Fusion 5 product family offers a way to run Windows on a Mac for individual or business use. VMware Fusion 5 has been revamped to take advantage of new technologies only available in Mountain Lion, Windows 8 and the latest Macs.

For example, you can run Windows on Mountain Lion Mac and search Windows programs in Launchpad, use "AirPlay Mirroring" to stream Mac and Windows applications on an HDTV and get VMware Fusion notifications in Mountain Lion’s notification center.

VMware Fusion 5 supports Windows 8 Standard, Pro and Enterprise editions so users can optimize the new Windows 8 "Metro" environment directly on a Mac.

Support for the latest Mac technologies include compatibility with Mountain Lion, Retina Display optimization, USB 3 connectivity, and improved support for large memory Macs (so you can run more virtual machines simultaneously). Performance enhancements include "up to 40% faster general performance speeds, improved power management for longer battery life and faster 3D graphics."

New ways to experience Windows on a Mac are available through an updated virtual machine library that enables transitions between multiple operating systems, one click snapshots with improved graphical appearance, a new graphics driver for Linux 3D desktops, and a new embedded learning center for immediate support.

VMware Fusion 5 Professional

VMware Fusion 5 Professional includes all the features of Fusion 5 plus new capabilities designed to improve the way professionals deliver business applications to Mac users. Key benefits include:

Open the doors to Macs: Whether business applications run on Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8 or one of more than 200 other operating systems, VMware Fusion 5 is designed to ensure maximum compatibility with the applications users need.

Create restricted virtual machines: You can create an encrypted corporate image designed to meet the needs of employees and make them productive from their first power-on. To prevent tampering of the corporate image, restrictions can prevent users from changing virtual machine settings or attaching USB devices to Windows.

Easy deployment across multiple platforms: VMware Fusion 5 Professional includes a commercial license of VMware Player 5 to deploy and run restricted virtual machines on Macs, Windows and Linux systems.

Reduce support costs: Reduce support costs by directing end-users to customized Web resources directly from VMware Fusion 5 Professional’s Help menu.

Easy management: VMware Fusion 5 Professional is a full perpetual license that activates both VMware Fusion 5 Professional and VMware Player 5.

In addition, VMware Fusion 5 has a number of specific features useful to IT audiences such as the ability to have network interactivity between virtual machines on the same host machine.

Availability and pricing

VMware Fusion 5 and VMware Fusion 5 Professional are available immediately for download and purchase from vmware.com for US$49.99 and $99.99, respectively. Customers who have purchased VMware Fusion 4 on or after July 25, 2012, are eligible for an electronic upgrade to VMware Fusion 5 at no additional cost. Volume pricing for corporate users starts at 10 users, is available from select resellers and vmware.com/vmwarestore/ and can reach discounts of up to 30%.

VMware Fusion 3 and 4 customers as well as Parallels Desktop customers can upgrade to VMware Fusion 5 Professional for $49.99 at www.vmware.com/go/buyfusion . There is no upgrade path to VMware Fusion 5 (standard). VMware Fusion is available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Japanese.