- VMware (NYSE:VMW) is forming a JV with SoftBank (OTCPK:SFTBF) to offer its vCloud Hybrid cloud infrastructure (IaaS) service in Japan. VMware will build and run the service, and SoftBank will provide the data centers and network it runs on. Both companies will offer the service through their sales channels.
- Over in China, VMware is partnering with China Telecom (NYSE:CHA) to offer vCloud Hybrid. In this case, China Telecom will operate the service, and VMware will simply provide the underlying software. The arrangement could appeal to Chinese firms hesitant to use a public cloud run by a U.S. company (say, Amazon) following the NSA uproar.
- Until now, vCloud Hybrid (launched in 2013) was only available at U.S. and U.K. sites. The service has won praise for the way it lets users jointly manage and quickly migrate public and private cloud workloads, but it continues facing tough competition from Amazon, Microsoft (the hybrid cloud leader), Google, IBM, and Rackspace, among others.
- Separately, parent EMC's RSA unit has bought technology assets from Symplified, a provider of cloud identity management services that enable single sign-on and automatic user provisioning for a variety of cloud apps/services. Symplified is shutting down its operations.
- EMC/RSA says it will add Symplified's IP to its Identity solutions portfolio. The purchase follows RSA's 2013 acquisition of Aveksa, a provider of tools for managing access to corporate apps and data.
- VMware reports on July 22, and EMC the following morning.