VMware boosts partner programme

The VMware Service Provider Program which third-party service providers to license VMware virtualisation systems

Virtualisation software specialist VMware has been trumpeting the success of its Service Provider Program (VSPP).

The company said that the programme, which allows third-party support firms to offer enterprise services and support for VMware customers, now has more than 700 members in 32 countries.

VSPP was launched in 2008 and enables third-party service providers to license VMware virtualisation systems which can then be resold to customers as fully-supported cloud-based services.

Central to the campaign is the company's vSphere software. Formerly known as VMware Infrastructure, the platform serves as the base for hosted computing systems, allowing for the creation of entire cloud-based systems on site.

VMware hopes that the early success of VSPP will allow it to stake a claim in the growing market for cloud computing services.

"With more than 700 service providers participating in the programme, customers of all sizes have numerous unique options for accessing these services," said Scott Aronson, vice president of global accounts and vCloud market development at VMware.

"The VSPP also offers service provider partners an easy on-ramp to participate in the VMware vCloud initiative, which helps partners leverage our industry-leading virtualisation platform to enable secure, robust and highly reliable internal and external clouds."