Intel is ready to release VT-enabled desktop processors. They already released Xeon CPUs with VT. VT (Virtualization Technology) will make it easier to deal with hard-to-virtualize x86 instructions. Virtualization vendors deal with these hard-to-virtualize instructions in different ways. It is important to note that VT technology helps with CPU virtualization, not with memory or I/O devices virtualization.

Virtualization software will need to be written to take advantage of VT. ESX 3.0 will use it, as will Xen.

Important to note here is that VT support in Xen will allow you to run an unmodified operating system in Xen. Before VT (and AMD's Pacifica), a modified guest OS was required. This technique (paravirtualization) meant low overhead (2%-8%) but prevented you from running Windows as a guest.