VMware Unveils vCloud For NFV With Integrated OpenStack to Help Service Providers Accelerate Service Innovation

BARCELONA, SPAIN--(Marketwired - March 02, 2015) - VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW)

• VMware vCloud for NFV Helps CSPs Achieve Sustainable Cost Reductions, Improve Time To Market
• VMware Offers CSPs a Fast, Simple Path to OpenStack Adoption
• Multi-Vendor vCloud NFV Platform Supports 40+ Virtual Network Functions from 30+ Vendors

MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS -- VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, today debuted VMware vCloud® for NFV, an integrated Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) platform that will combine VMware's production-proven virtualized compute, networking, storage and management solutions with integrated OpenStack support. With support for more than 40 different virtual network functions (VNFs) from more than 30 vendors, VMware vCloud for NFV is the only platform available today that runs different VNFs from different vendors side by side on the same unified platform for the cloud. With vCloud for NFV, communication service providers (CSPs) can deploy NFV solutions into production on a proven platform to achieve faster time to market for new and differentiated services while driving sustainable cost reductions.

At Mobile World Congress, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger will deliver a keynote address titled, "The New Mobile Identity" on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 from 9:15 - 10:45 a.m. CET in Hall 4, Auditorium 1.

Faced with declining margins and the need to accelerate service innovation, CSPs globally are embracing NFV to make their core network more agile and cost-effective. As the pioneer in virtualization and cloud, VMware is engaging with CSPs to deliver NFV solutions today. The VMware vCloud NFV Platform features VMware vSphere®, the industry-defining compute virtualization solution for the cloud; VMware NSX™, a full network virtualization platform that delivers the entire networking and security model from L2-L7 in software; VMware Virtual SAN™, software-defined storage that reduces storage CapEx and OpEx; and VMware vRealize™ Operations™, an extensible cloud management solution which will deliver purpose-built management packs to meet the unique requirements of CSPs. The platform will include full OpenStack compatibility through VMware Integrated OpenStack.

"Vodafone chose VMware's virtualization infrastructure for our initial Telco Cloud services, and we have successfully been in production with several services," said Kevin Salvadori, Director of Group Technology Strategy and Operations, Vodafone Group. "VMware was the solution for NFV that is ready for production across the different workloads we care about. As a result, we have been able to accelerate our time to market for new capabilities."

"By moving Network Functions Virtualization into production today, our communications service provider customers, such as Vodafone, are accelerating their own transformation into next-generation cloud providers, building the operational expertise needed to succeed in the cloud era ahead of their competition," said Shekar Ayyar, recently appointed corporate senior vice president, Strategy and Corporate Development and General Manager, Telco NFV Group, VMware. "Today, CSPs can deploy virtual network functions on VMware vCloud APIs, building valuable production cloud DNA into their operations and support teams. At the same time, they can begin to test OpenStack-based VNFs on the same infrastructure and deploy to production as OpenStack's suitability for NFV use cases improves in future releases."

VMware to Offer Fast and Simple Path to OpenStack
VMware vCloud for NFV will include VMware Integrated OpenStack, VMware's fully-tested and supported OpenStack distribution. VMware Integrated OpenStack will offer a fast route to service innovation by combining the agility of OpenStack with the resiliency and maturity of VMware's proven portfolio of best-in-class compute, networking, storage and management components. With VMware vCloud for NFV, CSPs will be able to take a phased approach to adopting OpenStack, and VMware will help CSPs drive increasingly greater value from OpenStack as the framework evolves to help them accelerate service innovation and reduce costs. The vCloud for NFV platform is available today, with VMware Integrated OpenStack scheduled to be available in the platform Q1 2015.

"We are seeing OpenStack momentum continue to grow across the CSP market as our customers seek to achieve greater agility, and to leverage Open APIs to support true multi-vendor NFV. OpenStack also supports the NFV objective of dramatically reducing infrastructure costs to address continued margin erosion," continued Ayyar. "CSPs need an OpenStack distribution that is optimized for a mature NVFI platform that helps them get started today and carries them through tomorrow, and VMware will meet this need by offering customers a fast and simple path to OpenStack adoption."

Additional Commentary from VMware Partners

"We share a belief with VMware that NFV represents a truly disruptive technology that is capable of re-defining the way mobile networks are built today. With more than 20 deployments and 40 trials currently underway with global operators, we are committed to providing our customers with the most flexible and reliable solutions available. We have partnered with VMware to deliver today's only production NFV solution that allows mobile operators to improve their cost-structure, streamline their operations and significantly accelerate their service creation capabilities as they continue to deploy this truly transformational technology worldwide." - Hassan Ahmed, chairman and CEO, Affirmed Networks

"Last month, Telekom Austria Group¹s Serbian subsidiary, Vip mobile, demonstrated the world's first fully virtualized LTE stack in a live network, delivering data, voice and IMS services, with Connectem, providing the virtual Evolved Packet Core across VMware's Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure based on vSphere. Connectem and VMware have collaborated to combined production-proven NFVI to Connectem¹s Virtual Core for Mobile solution. We are very pleased to have worked with VMware to demonstrate the power of network functions virtualization in creating new and better options for telecoms services delivery." - Nishi Kant, Chief Executive Officer, Connectem Inc.

"NFV is a disruptive force poised to change how service providers operate their networks and drive service revenue. The combination of VMware vCloud NFV Platform featuring OpenStack integration, with Cyan's carrier SDN and NFV orchestration, creates a best-in-class solution for the Telco Cloud." - Joe Cumello, Chief Marketing Officer, Cyan

"As telecom carriers and communications service providers are looking to benefit from better service agility and economics through introduction of cloud technologies into their network, VMware's vCloud for NFV stands out as a clearly differentiated production environment for NFV and SDN. Coupled with converged infrastructure and storage from EMC, the combination is a powerful platform for innovative network functions." - John Roese, Chief Technology Officer, EMC Corporation

"Mavenir Systems and T-Mobile Czech Republic recently announced the successful joint deployment of Mavenir's converged IMS Core and Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Application Server solution and the successful first VoLTE call and limited pilot in their live network. Mavenir's end-to-end IMS Core solution was selected by T-Mobile Czech Republic to enable the rapid and flexible deployment of the next generation services like VoLTE from a single common platform, and was delivered on VMware's vSphere-based network functions virtualization platform." - Ian Maclean, vice president of Strategy, Mavenir Systems

"Metaswitch believes that VMware's NFV Platform offers a feature rich, production-ready environment within which to run Metaswitch's virtualized IMS-based solutions, which have been built from the ground up to run in public and private clouds. Together Metaswitch and VMware's solutions allow operators to confidently deploy carrier quality NFV-based networks today, and provide a strong foundation as operators accelerate their OpenStack adoption." - Paul Drew, senior vice president, Clearwater. Metaswitch Networks

Additional Resources

• Check out VMware's additional sessions at Mobile World Congress in the AirWatch Amphitheater, Hall 3, booth #3D10.
• Tuesday, March 3 from 10:00 - 10:55 a.m., EMC, VMware and Pivotal will host a panel moderated by Heavy Reading Analyst Caroline Chappell titled, "Telco 2015 - NFV and the Path to the Telco Cloud"
• Tuesday, March 3 from 12:30 - 12:55 p.m., Dave Wright, VP, Network Functions Virtualization at VMware will present "The Future of NFV Infrastructures Today."
• Wednesday, March 4 from 14:30 - 14:55 p.m., Dave Wright, VP, Network Functions Virtualization for VMware will present "The NFV Business Case with VMware."
• Learn moreabout the appointment of Shekar Ayyar to lead VMware's NFV Group.
• Read more about ways VMware is working with CSPs to move towards NFV as a means to drive service transformation.
• Learn more at Tribal Knowledge, the VMware company blog, for the latest VMware and industry news.
• Connect with VMware on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+

About VMware
VMware is a 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 2014 revenues of $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.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding the expected availability and benefits and advantages to customers of VMware Integrated OpenStack delivered through VMware vCloud for NFV. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (ii) delays or reductions in information technology spending and investments; (iii) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures, industry consolidation, entry of new competitors into the enterprise software and cloud computing markets, and new product and marketing initiatives by our competitors; (iv) our customers' ability to develop, and to transition to, new products and computing strategies such as cloud computing and mobile device management; (vi the uncertainty of customer acceptance of emerging technology; (vi) rapid technological and market changes in virtualization software and application platforms for enterprise computing; (vii) changes to product development timelines; (viii) the successful interoperability and integration of the technologies involved; (ix) VMware's ability to protect its proprietary technology; and (x) VMware's ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees.. These forward looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in condition, significance, value and effect as well as other risks detailed in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that we may file from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. VMware assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.

VMware, vSphere, vCloud, VMware NSX, VMware Virtual SAN, vRealize Operations, and vRealize are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. The use of the word "partner" or "partnership" does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company.