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Liveblog: VMware Partner Exchange aims for the cloud

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Carl Eschenbach, co-president of customer operations at VMware

Carl Eschenbach, co-president of customer operations at VMware

LAS VEGAS – Following the day one activities of VMworld Partner Exchange, where the virtualization vendor introduced new partner benefits, enhanced programs and new competency specializations, the company co-president focused on customer operations will take the stage today to further detail what VMware is doing to help partners build a solid business in an IT era that Paul Maritz, VMware CEO, described yesterday as being one of the most profound changes he’ll see in his working career.

Carl Eschenbach will kick off day two at 9:00 am PT. Executives yesterday hinted at a couple of surprises to be announced during Eschenbach’s keynote. Watch the liveblog of the keynote to see what Eschenbach has to say.

  VMware Partner Exchange: Wednesday morning general session (02/15/2012) 
8:58
ChannelBuzz.ca: 

Good morning from Las Vegas! The keynotes will be getting started in just a few momtns.

Wednesday February 15, 2012 8:58 ChannelBuzz.ca
9:06
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

A few minutes late to start, but the day two general session at #VMwarePEX is about to begin. [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:06 ajaxwriter
9:07
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Carl Eschenbach takes the stage at #VMwarePEX. The audience sounds far too awake. Maybe they had stronger coffee than I did. [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:07 ajaxwriter
9:09
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Refresher from yesterday: New incentives, driving transformation of IT, new accreditations. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:09 ajaxwriter
9:10
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Eschenbach reaffirms commitment to working with channel partners as the @VMware salesforce. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:10 ajaxwriter
9:11
Twitter
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Eschenbach: IT industry grew 3-4% in 2011. @VMware outpaced industry by 8-12%. Why? Because of partners. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:11 ajaxwriter
9:12
Twitter
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Eschenbach: Partners are not extension of @VMware salesforce; it is the salesforce. Vendor continues to be channel-led company. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:12 ajaxwriter
9:12
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Eschenbach calls up Partner Network of the Year Award winners. Congrats. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:12 ajaxwriter
9:14
Twitter
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Some of the winners have won for three consecutive years, says Eschenbach. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:14 ajaxwriter
9:14
Twitter
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Eschenbach looking back: Significant growth in 2011 for ISV partners. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:14 ajaxwriter
9:16
Twitter
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Eschenbach: VSPP a “critical part of our strategy going forward.” #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:16 ajaxwriter
9:16
Twitter
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In 2011, @VMware saw 150% growth in management and automation solutions around vSphere. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:16 ajaxwriter
9:18
Twitter
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Eschenbach: A decade ago, we lived in a very physical world where data center was riddled with physical devices. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:18 ajaxwriter
9:18
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Eschenbach: IT is no longer a cost centre, but a business driver. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:18 ajaxwriter
9:20
Twitter
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Eschenbach: Industry is well beyond the 50% virtualized state mark. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:20 ajaxwriter
9:20
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Gartner stat on the screen says 81% of installed VMs are @VMware-based. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:20 ajaxwriter
9:24
Twitter
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To bring customers into the next phase of cloud journey, one thing @VMware will focus on is services, says Eschenbach. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:24 ajaxwriter
9:26
Twitter
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“Customers are moving to a world where they ultimately want to achieve 80-90% virtualization state,” Eschenbach says. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:26 ajaxwriter
9:26
Twitter
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Second thing @VMware needs to do is amplify business value with cloud computing. Automation is key, says Eschenbach. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:26 ajaxwriter
9:27
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Management and automation will boost the value of cloud computing, Eschenbach says. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:27 ajaxwriter
9:28
Twitter
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Eschenbach: Last thing we need to do to drive cloud-based offerings is extend reach beyond end-user computing as it is today. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:28 ajaxwriter
9:29
Twitter
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Eschenbach: We need to ensure that IT maintains control. … Uh, good luck. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:29 ajaxwriter
9:31
Twitter
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Software and maintenance opportunity is $51 billion or more in next three years, Eschenbach says. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:31 ajaxwriter
9:32
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Big services opportunity is related to opex discussion. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:32 ajaxwriter
9:35
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

For the first time, @VMware is going to market based on market segmentation. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:35 ajaxwriter
9:36
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Customer decisions will drive buying behaviour over the next decade. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:36 ajaxwriter
9:36
Twitter
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Enabling partners to help them help customers make architectural decisions. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:36 ajaxwriter
9:38
Twitter
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75% of SMBs already virtualizing or will be rolling out projects in 2012. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:38 ajaxwriter
9:39
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Eschenbach: SMBs want solutions more than commercial and enterprise companies because they’re lacking staff. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:39 ajaxwriter
9:40
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Marketing campaign to touch more than 600K SMB decision-makers in 2012. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:40 ajaxwriter
9:41
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Marketing specifically to SMB and enterprise. New direction for @VMware. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:41 ajaxwriter
9:42
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Three key @VMware customer segments are SMB, commercial and enterprise. Driving towards segmentation. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:42 ajaxwriter
9:43
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Enterprise will be VMware-led, partner supported. Commercial is led by VMware and partners. SMB is partner-led. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:43 ajaxwriter
9:44
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Strong message at #VMwarePEX around SMB virtualization. [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:44 ajaxwriter
9:47
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

20% rewards around competencies for new sales boosted by 10 points over last year. and then 10% on subsequent sales. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:47 ajaxwriter
9:47
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Eschenbach: @VMware is incenting partners to go after most robust opportunities. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:47 ajaxwriter
9:48
Twitter
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Eschenbach: @VMware needs to be in services biz to understand how customers are using its products. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:48 ajaxwriter
9:49
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Eschenbach: Services drive software. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:49 ajaxwriter
9:50
Twitter
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For last eight quarters, services revenue has been 7.8% of @VMware revenue. Consulting services less than 4% of total. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:50 ajaxwriter
9:51
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

In Q4,@VMware consulting services did about $40 million in revenue. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:51 ajaxwriter
9:52
Twitter
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Eschenbach: Plenty of services revenue to go around. #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:52 ajaxwriter
9:57
Twitter
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Eschenbach to partners: “We are going to continue to accelerate our investment in you.” #VMwarePEX [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:57 ajaxwriter
9:59
Twitter
ajaxwriter: 

Eschenbach wraps up his day two general session keynote speech at #VMwarePEX. [via Twitter]
Wednesday February 15, 2012 9:59 ajaxwriter
10:00
ChannelBuzz.ca: 

Thanks for joining us for the liveblog! Expect more coverage from Partner Exchange on ChannelBuzz.ca later today!

Wednesday February 15, 2012 10:00 ChannelBuzz.ca
10:00