Helps system builders deliver virtualization solutions to customers of all sizes with new technical and marketing resources.

VMware, Inc., a provider of virtualization solutions from the desktop to the datacenter, today unveiled the VMware System Builder Program, a new program within its VIP Partner Program designed for system builders that sell VMware virtualization solutions. The company avers that the System Builder Program provides benefits for system builders, including pre-sales technical support, targeted training programs, and new and improved marketing tools. It adds that system builders also can leverage all of the its VIP Partner Program including the Advantage+ financial incentive program, the VMware Alliance Affiliate Initiative, the VMware Going Green Program, and the ability to sell VMware's entire line of industry-leading virtualization solutions.

The company articulates that a "system builder" is considered to be an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that focuses on local or national distribution. In addition, it says that it has been working with global original design manufacturers (ODMs) to certify a wide range of one-, two- and four-socket server systems as well as blade servers for the VMware ESX and ESXi hypervisors. ODMs supply many system builders with the hardware they use to build and brand their custom systems. It says that this existing effort provides system builders participating in the new program more flexibility in how they make VMware virtualization available by offering a broader range of hardware options to suit the needs of customers of all sizes.

"For system builders focused on the server business, there is a great new opportunity for them to increase their value-add with VMware's virtualization software," said Steve Dallman, vice president, worldwide reseller channel organization at Intel Corporation. "We are excited about VMware's new System Builder program, which provides the necessary certified education and technical enablement resources for Intel channel partners to rapidly customize their server hardware solutions for a time-to-market advantage."

"System builders account for a significant number of servers sold around the world, especially to small and medium businesses, so it is important that we provide them with the tools they need to capitalize on the global market opportunity for VMware virtualization," said Steve Houck, vice president of worldwide channels at VMware. "Now that customers and partners can download the VMware ESXi hypervisor free of charge, we expect virtualization to become even more pervasive, increasing the demand for system builder offerings. To help address this, we will continue to broaden our world-class partner program, which now enables our system builder partners to more easily develop their expertise, achieve additional profitability and stimulate demand for their solutions through VMware virtualization."