VMware Throws Coming Out Party For AirWatch, Unveils End-User Computing Partnerships With Google, Nvidia And SAP

VMware unveiled its latest bundle of products aimed at end users at its VMworld conference Tuesday, and the big addition is AirWatch, the mobile device management vendor it acquired in January for $1.5 billion.

The bundle, called VMware Workplace Suite, also includes its Horizon desktop virtualization software as well as software for managing and securing applications, data and devices, Sanjay Poonen, executive vice president and general manager of VMware’s end-user computing business, said in a blog post Tuesday.

End-user computing is a major area of focus for VMware, and acquiring the highly regarded AirWatch was a bold move that instantly gave the Palo Alto, Calif.-based vendor some much needed credibility in the enterprise mobility market.

[Related: VMware Acquires Startup CloudVolumes To Speed Virtual App Delivery To Desktops]

But MDM is just a piece of the puzzle for VMware, which aims to unseat Citrix as the top provider of software for securely connecting mobile devices with enterprise apps and data.

VMware’s acquisition last week of CloudVolumes will help speed delivery of native apps to virtual desktops, Poonen said in the blog post.

CloudVolumes does this with proprietary ’layering" technology that splits a Windows instance into separate pieces. Once VMware integrates CloudVolumes' technology with Horizon, customers will see better virtual desktop performance, according to Poonen.

’This will dramatically change the virtual desktop game by addressing the application and performance challenge so customers no longer have to choose between cost and a fast, personalized desktop experience,’ Poonen said in the blog post.

VMware also flexed its R&D muscle by giving VMworld attendees a sneak peek at Project Meteor, a technology it claims enables faster, more personalized virtual desktops. It’s currently available as a preview.

’This technology is truly amazing and can dynamically create personalized desktops using any available generic virtual machine. Project Meteor will then deliver the applications in seconds to any device with an HTML 5 based browser,’ Poonen said in the blog post.

Meanwhile, VMware revealed a couple of partnerships to help open up its end-user computing advancements to new types of users.

VMware is teaming up with Google and Nvidia on a project to deliver high performance apps and desktops to Chromebooks. The joint effort uses Nvidia’s GRID virtual CPU running in data centers, Nvidia Tegra K1 processors that come with Chromebooks, and VMware's Blast HTML5 technology.

VMware is also deepening its existing partnership with SAP to allow users of SAP’s enterprise app store to use AirWatch with the apps developed with SAP technology.

PUBLISHED AUG. 26, 2014