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VMware Launches ‘VMware Ready’ Desktop Solutions Program

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VMware earlier this week announced the expansion of its VMware Ready Program for partners providing desktop virtualization solutions based on VMware View.

The new VMware Ready Desktop Solutions Program provides customers validated desktop virtualization solution architectures that meet VMware’s functional and scalability requirements and are delivered by qualified VMware solution providers.

As part of the VMware Ready Desktop Solutions Program, VMware and its partners validate the complete solution stack, including hardware solutions for compute, storage and network resources, and identify qualified delivery partners who can deploy and support an end-to-end desktop virtualization solution.

VMware plans to expand the VMware Ready Desktop Solutions Program to include solutions from qualified partners with proven expertise in additional targeted vertical markets including education and healthcare.

Cloud-based Systems Management Company ScaleXtreme Raises $11M

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ScaleXtreme, a cloud-based systems management company, today announced it has closed an $11 million Series B led by Ignition Partners with participation from previous investor, Accel Partners.

The new financing will be used to accelerate the rollout of additional product capabilities, and expand marketing and sales for ScaleXtreme’s new way of managing hybrid clouds.

ScaleXtreme’s product transforms the way IT admins manage their Amazon EC2, VMware virtual machine and physical server deployments. ScaleXtreme was founded by a team with deep expertise in enterprise software and systems management, including Bladelogic and VMware.

“There is a dramatic shift going on in the computing industry with the advent of virtualization and public cloud computing – and with this, there is a significant opportunity for some company to transform the management of the new computing landscape,” said Mulchandani, CEO of ScaleXtreme.

Frank Artale, managing director at Ignition, will join the board that includes Ping Li from Accel and Nand Mulchandani and Balaji Srinivasa from ScaleXtreme.

(Via TechCrunch)

Desktop Virtualization Market To Approach A Whopping $5 Billion In 2016, Says ABI Research

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According to a new study from ABI Research, the worldwide market for hosted virtual desktops is forecast to grow from about $500 million in 2009 to a cumulative total of nearly $5 billion in 2016.

North America and Europe will comprise the majority of the market for virtual desktops throughout the forecast period.

Larry Fisher, director of the firm’s Automotive, Energy and Emerging Technologies practice, says, “The VDI market will exhibit impressive growth in the next five years; buyers will principally consist of large enterprises looking to reduce their desktop support and management costs, and companies and organizations that need to lock data in the data center, either for compliance or security reasons.”

Release: Microsoft System Center Orchestrator 2012 Beta

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Microsoft has announced that its System Center Orchestrator 2012 Beta is now available for download and testing.

According to Microsoft, System Center Orchestrator 2012 lets you:

– Connect heterogeneous environments through integration

– Create custom integrations to any system using the Quick Integration Kit

– Realize benefits and value faster through flexible process workflows

– Improve service reliability across multiple tools, systems and departmental silos

– Free up scarce IT resources for work that adds real value to your business

– Reduce the number of manual and error-prone tasks and activities performed

The product comes from Microsoft’s Opalis acquisition.

Astute Networks Expands Executive Team With Key Hires From VMware, SEPATON

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Astute Networks, a provider of network and storage-based technologies, today announced the appointment of two executives to its team: Steven Houck, senior vice president of worldwide sales and Jay Kramer, vice president of worldwide marketing. Both executives will report directly to CEO Steve Topper.

As Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales, Houck will be responsible for developing Astute Networks’ global sales strategy and growing company revenue. Prior to joining Astute Networks, Houck held various executive positions at VMware including vice president of worldwide channels and vice president/general manager, Latin America. Houck also served as vice president worldwide SMB sales at EMC where he successfully developed the SMB storage market for EMC Corporation. H

ouck held the position of CEO at Gridtree, a cloud services company serving enterprises throughout Latin America. He has also held various sales leadership positions including executive vice president of worldwide sales at Corel Corporation.

Kramer brings 25 years experience in the technology industry to his role as vice president of worldwide marketing at Astute, where he will spearhead the company’s efforts to build a leadership position in the fast-growing global market for virtualization solutions addressing mid-market and enterprise infrastructure and cloud deployments.

Prior to joining Astute Networks, Kramer was the vice president of worldwide marketing at SEPATON; a vice president of worldwide marketing at iStor; and a vice president of marketing at Maxtor and CDS. Kramer had also held executive positions in sales, marketing and strategic planning at Unisys Corporation.