Can VMware virtualizing Windows running on Ubuntu 12.04 recognize my Android phone?
 

As of now, I have to use some really unreliable software workaround to get my android phone read by my ubuntu machine. I'm wondering if virtualizing Windows would do the trick.

Thanks

My understanding is that virtualizing Windows under VMWare would do the trick. That would also be safer for your ubuntu linux system as well.

Many of the newer vm's offer usb to client support. I mean that the client would be able to use the host's usb just as if the usb was connected to the client directly.

Not sure what the issue is with the phone. It should be mounted/mountable as a media device shouldn't it?

Phones vary widely in their support for this sort of thing. I've got one Android that connects easily and one that does not. Apparently, their firmware support is different between the two models.

A good alternative is to install the free version of AirDroid on your phone, which runs a special purpose web-page on your phone which you can then connect-to with any browser to do most things. No cables required. The remote computer no longer has to run any particular (old, decrepit, unreliable, etc.) piece of interfacing-software just to connect to the phone.