VMware and IBM Expand Global Cloud Partnership with Desktop Services

ARMONK, N.Y. and PALO ALTO, Calif., June 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) and VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), today announced they are continuing to expand their strategic partnership by enabling VMware Horizon Air customers to take advantage of cloud-hosted desktop and application services via the IBM Cloud.

This announcement reinforces IBM Cloud being a strategic cloud partner for VMware. VMware Horizon Air cloud services deliver full Windows desktops or published applications to desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones. These services running on the IBM Cloud will give customers the flexibility to access critical apps and data from any device, anywhere, at anytime.

Earlier in 2016, IBM and VMware announced a strategic partnership designed to help enterprises take better advantage of the cloud's speed and economics to extend existing workloads from on-premises software-defined data center to the cloud.

"Our strategic partnership with IBM continues to grow and evolve as we look to enable customers to access corporate applications and data through a secure digital workspace," said Sanjay Poonen, executive vice president and general manager, End-User Computing, and head of global marketing and communications, VMware. "Customers are asking for choice and innovation, while protecting existing IT investments. Offering VMware Horizon Air on the IBM Cloud addresses customer demands with an enterprise-grade cloud and services from two proven and trusted companies."

"IBM has collaborated with VMware for over a decade and this expansion represents a continuation of that relationship helping enterprises more quickly and easily embrace the cloud," said Robert LeBlanc, senior vice president, IBM Cloud. "Every company will need to transition to the cloud to remain competitive. The strategic partnership to support VMware Horizon Air on IBM Cloud, provides a fantastic example of how IBM and VMware are helping customers dramatically simplify this move."

VMware Horizon Air enables organizations to deliver virtual desktops and applications to a broad range of end-users across devices and locations without the cost and hassle of managing or owning the required infrastructure.

With IBM Cloud, VMware Horizon Air customers will have the opportunity to enjoy:

• Enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure to support deployments at cloud scale and speed
• The ability to start locally and scale globally to new sites while delivering services that meet regional regulatory mandates
• IBM network performance and global datacenter connectivity
• Flexible monthly subscription pricing for cost-effective provisioning of cloud-hosted desktops and applications

The two companies will jointly market and sell the VMware Horizon Air portfolio of cloud services around the world throughout the year. For more information on VMware Horizon Air visit: http://www.vmware.com/cloud-services/desktop/horizon-air-desktop/

Availability VMware Horizon Air on IBM Cloud is expected to be available in Q3 2016.

Additional Resources

• Watch a video message from Pat Gelsinger, chief executive officer, VMware and Robert LeBlanc, senior vice president, IBM Cloud
• Read a blog post by Courtney Burry, senior director of product marketing, desktop products, End-User Computing, VMware
• Follow VMware Horizon Air on Facebook and Twitter

About IBM Cloud
For more information on IBM Cloud visit: www.ibm.com/cloud-computing.

About VMware
VMware is a global leader in cloud infrastructure and business mobility.  Built on VMware's industry-leading virtualization technology, our solutions deliver a brave new model of IT that is fluid, instant and more secure.  Customers can innovate faster by rapidly developing, automatically delivering and more safely consuming any application.  With 2015 revenues of $6.6 billion, VMware has more than 500,000 customers and 75,000 partners. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the world and can be found online at www.vmware.com.

Media Contacts   
Louis Cheng   
VMware Global Communications   
[email protected]   
(650) 427-7643

Faye Abloeser   
IBM Corporate Communications   
[email protected]   
(908) 770-0762

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SOURCE IBM