VMware vCloud Hybrid Service: VMworld 2013 Launch?
There is a good probability VMware’s (VMW) vCloud Hybrid Service will officially launch at VMworld 2013 (Aug. 25-29, San Francisco). But even before the service launches, VMware is making a compelling case that it will continue to manage far more workloads than Amazon Web Services (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT) Windows Azure and other public clouds.
During the Tech Data (TECD) TDCloud conference last week in Tampa, Fla., VMware re-confirmed that vCloud Hybrid Service will be generally available in Q3 2013. Mercer Rowe, senior director of vCloud Hybrid Service, went a step further and strongly hinted the service will launch at VMworld later this month.
Amid a 30-minute presentation to roughly 100 VARs and managed services providers (MSPs), Rowe said the vCloud Hybrid Service is the software defined data center realized. “The goal,” he added, “is for customers to run any application, any place with no changes.”
Even before the VMware cloud arrives, Rowe insisted that VMware is the standard for Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). He said eight times more workloads run on VMware vs. Amazon Web Services. Plus, 90 percent of VMs (virtual machines) are not yet in the cloud, he asserted. When vCloud Hybrid Service arrives, Rowe added, partners will own the pricing, billing and services relationship.
Read between the lines and Rowe is stating that VMware will avoid the early problems that somewhat plagued Microsoft’s Office 365 platform, which initially did not allow partners to manage end-customer billing or pricing. Microsoft has since adjusted its stance with the so-called Office 365 Open program.
Rowe also hinted that a range of partner program enhancements will launch soon — including subscription business enabled, sales enabled and service delivery enabled offerings from VMware.