VMware will on Monday release its Fusion product that lets Macs run Windows applications without losing the Apple look and feel.

In beta since December, Fusion supports dual-core processors and both 32bit and 64bit operating systems such as the x86 versions of Solaris and Linux, as well as multi-generation Windows applications.

Parallels does a similar job and there are also Windows dual-boot and emulation packages available but VMware said product finish and depth of support to include elements such as Windows battery management, 3D graphics and USB 2.0 will differentiate it.

VMware product manager for Apple products Serge Robe said Fusion is aimed at the “pro-sumer” sector but the company added that enterprises have also shown interest for users who would like to use Macs but need occasional access to Windows applications such as Outlook, vertical-market programs or web sites written only for IE for Windows. Cross-platform testing of applications developed in house could also lure corporates.

“I can be in an environment where Outlook and Exchange is the standard but I still have the platform I want, or I can be able to run an ERP program,” said Reza Malekzadeh, VMware director of product marketing.

Fusion will sell for about £50 in the UK with online availability from Monday and boxed product due by the end of August.

Ben Rudolph, director of Parallels, said, “Welcome to the market. We’ve shown we can innovate faster than anybody but Fusion is solid. VMware makes stuff that is good and always has but we’re well established as an Apple brand. Parallels is like Cher: you know it just with one name.”