VMware 2012 Annual Report Download - page 9

Table of Contents
application frameworks, application run-time and data management solutions and an open platform as a service, or PaaS. Our SpringSource
product group develops and supports the Spring application framework for enterprise Java applications and the Grails framework for high
productivity web applications written in the Groovy programming language. Both of these frameworks are open source software.
Our VMware Cloud Application Platform runtime and data products enable developers to deploy and manage applications and databases in
traditional server environments as well as on virtualized infrastructure based on vSphere. These products include VMware vFabric GemFire,
which enables real-time data distribution, caching and management for high performance and cloud applications and vFabric Data Director,
which enables simplified management and operation of databases on vSphere.
In December 2012, VMware and EMC launched the Pivotal Initiative, pursuant to which both companies plan to commit technology, people
and programs to focus on Big Data and Cloud Application Platforms. The Pivotal Initiative is led by Paul Maritz, Chief Strategy Officer of EMC
and VMware's former Chief Executive Officer, and is expected to include most employees and resources working within EMC's Greenplum and
Pivotal Labs organizations, VMware's vFabric (including Spring and Gemfire), Cloud Foundry and Cetas organizations, as well as related
efforts.
Technology Alliances
Consistent with our partner-centric strategy, we have engaged a broad group of hardware, software and cloud computing service vendors to
cooperatively advance virtualization technology through joint marketing, product interoperability, collaboration and co-development. We create
opportunity for partners by enabling them to build products that utilize our virtualization technology and create differentiated value through joint
solutions.
We have more than 1,900 technology partners with whom we bring joint offerings to the marketplace and over 10,000 Service Provider
partners. We classify our partners as follows:
The VMware Technology Alliance Partner program facilitates joint solution creation and coordinated go-to-market activities with our
partners. Over 4,500 of the most widely used applications from ISVs support the VMware vSphere platform. These applications include business
solutions for enterprise resource planning, human resource management, electronic medical records management, financial processing and
middleware, such as application servers and databases. As an extension to this rapidly growing list, we have expanded our VMware Ready
program to allow application software and desktop solution providers to qualify for the VMware Ready logo. The VMware Ready Desktop
Solutions program validates the reference architecture and desktop specialization of solution providers that simplify VMware virtual desktop
environments.
Our ISVs and other alliance partners, developers and additional VMware community members have distributed more than 900 software
applications as virtual appliances. We invest significant capital in testing and certification of infrastructure to rigorously ensure our software
works well with major hardware and software products. We have more than 9,100 servers, storage, I/O and thin-client devices that are VMware
Ready. We have successfully tested approximately 670 operating system versions for use with our solutions. We believe that the scale and scope
of this effort is a significant competitive advantage.
Research and Development
We have made, and expect to continue to make, significant investments in research and development (“R&D”). We have assembled an
experienced group of developers with system level, systems management, desktop, mobile devices, security, application development,
collaborative applications, networking, storage and open source software expertise. We also have strong ties to leading academic institutions
around the world, and we invest in joint research with academia.
We prioritize our product development efforts through a combination of engineering-driven innovation and customer and market-driven
feedback. Our R&D culture places high value on innovation, quality and open collaboration with our partners.
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• Independent Hardware Vendors (“IHVs”). We have established relationships with large system vendors, including Cisco, Dell,
Fujitsu, Fujitsu-Siemens, HP, IBM, Lenovo and NEC for joint certification and co-
development. We also work closely with AMD, Intel
and other IHVs to provide input on product development to enable them to deliver hardware advancements that benefit virtualization
users. We coordinate with the leading storage and networking vendors to ensure joint interoperability and enable our software to access
their differentiated functionality.
• Independent Software Vendors (“ISVs”). We partner with leading systems management, infrastructure software and application
software vendors - including the top healthcare, telecom, finance and retail market leaders - to deliver value-added products that
integrate with our VMware products.
• VMware Service Providers. We have established partnerships with over 10,000 service providers including Bluelock, Colt, Sing Tel,
CSC, Dell, Hitachi, Optus, OVH, Softbank and AT&T to enable them to host and deliver enterprise-class hybrid clouds as a way for
enterprises to extend their datacenters to external clouds, while preserving security, compliance and quality of service.