LONDON, September 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
The two companies have launched a new service that makes it
easier and quicker for enterprises to move VMware workloads between
on-premises environments and IBM Cloud
Through a new agreement with IBM (NYSE:IBM), Vodafone announced
today that it is offering an international service that enables
enterprises to support the movement of VMware-based workloads on a
Vodafone Hosted Private Cloud to and from the IBM Cloud. The
new service means Vodafone customers can more easily and quickly
deploy and move VMware-based workloads with confidence, speed and
scale globally, while supporting growing data residency needs.
Working with IBM, Vodafone is helping its clients tackle one of
the most pressing IT challenges for enterprises; moving existing
VMware workloads from on premises environments to the cloud without
incurring the cost and risk associated with re-tooling operations,
re-architecting applications and re-designing security
policies.
With over half a million enterprises running an estimated 50
million workloads, enterprises need fast, easy and cost effective
ways to deploy and move VMware workloads between on-premises and
cloud environments and across geographic boundaries.
The IBM Cloud capability helps clients meet this growing demand
by extending the global footprint of Vodafone's Hosted Private
Cloud service and helping establish a new hybrid cloud offering for
enterprises. This new service is designed to help Vodafone
enterprise customers reduce latency by locating applications closer
to users while maintaining data within a security-rich global
network.
In utilising VMware NSX network virtualisation across Vodafone's
global network, a single virtual data centre based on VMware was
created to bridge between the Vodafone Hosted Private Cloud and the
IBM Cloud, This enables enterprises to establish true application
portability and burst capability across a geographically diverse
data centre footprint using a single management portal.
The Vodafone Hosted Private Cloud solution and the IBM Cloud
offers a number of advantages including:
- With Vodafone's and IBM's expertise, solutions and cloud
infrastructure enterprises can quickly manage and scale their
workloads utilising the VMware cloud software, processes and APIs
with which they are already familiar.
- The Vodafone network and Hosted Private Cloud capabilities will
allow customers to rapidly provision new or scale existing
workloads across 19 countries as a result of the combined Vodafone
and IBM cloud data centre footprint.
- Enterprises requiring compliance and data residency regulation
are able to move workloads easily to the appropriate geography and
are able to have greater flexibility to respond to changes as needs
evolve.
- As well as benefitting from flexible, consumption based pricing
models and access to professional services, enterprises can also
access the combined possibilities of Vodafone connectivity and IoT
capabilities.
- Enable Vodafone customers to tap into IBM's hybrid cloud
capabilities and relationship with VMware to expand on the value
from their existing investments while giving them on-demand,
scalable access to infrastructure and services, including higher
value IBM services like Watson.
Responding to the announcement, Ajay
Patel, senior vice president, Product Development, Cloud
Services, VMware said, "VMware is pleased to see Vodafone and IBM
partner to empower our mutual customers to innovate across clouds
using VMware Cross-Cloud Architecture. This new offering from
Vodafone and IBM will enable businesses to utilise a globally
consistent, common operating model for running, managing and
securing their workloads across clouds."
Vodafone director of Cloud and Hosting Services Greg Hyttenrauch
said, "IBM is an excellent partner for Vodafone. The
combination of our network and our VMware based Hosted Private
Cloud with the global reach of IBM's capabilities gives customers
more flexibility, more choice and the possibility of a true hybrid
cloud. There is no doubt in my mind that we are starting out
on a long and fruitful relationship."
Sebastian Krause general manager
IBM Cloud Europe added, "The IBM Cloud is bringing expanded
capabilities to Vodafone by providing its customers with quick and
easy access to a variety of higher value services across a broader
geographical footprint than ever before. Through this
collaboration, we are further helping enterprises take advantage of
the opportunity and value of cloud."
About Vodafone Group
Vodafone Group is one of the world's largest telecommunications
companies and provides a range of services including voice,
messaging, data and fixed communications. Vodafone Group has mobile
operations in 26 countries, partners with mobile networks in 49
more, and fixed broadband operations in 19 markets. As of
30 June 2017, Vodafone Group had
523.5 million mobile customers and 18.5 million fixed broadband
customers, including India and all
of the customers in Vodafone's joint ventures and associates. For
more information, please visit: http://www.vodafone.com
For more information on IBM Cloud visit
http://www.ibm.com/cloud
VMware, NSX and Cross-Cloud Architecture are registered
trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in
the United States and other
jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be
trademarks of their respective companies.
For further information:
Media Relations
http://www.vodafone.com/media/contact
SOURCE Vodafone and IBM