VMware plans to invest $1bn in China over the next five years

USA: VMware plans a US$1billion investment over the next five years to be dedicated to market development and innovation specifically in China.

"China is an innovation epicenter that presents VMware with a unique opportunity to participate in an expanded and more diverse joint solution development cycle under the VMware Labs Asia framework," said Sanjay Mirchandani, senior vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific and Japan, VMware. "VMware Labs Asia will embrace new innovation models together with ecosystem partners with the aim of delivering breakthrough innovation initially in China and beyond," Mirchandani added.

The VMware Labs Asia program will operate under VMware's Asia Pacific and Japan organization and be led by Dr. Ying Li, managing director, VMware Labs Asia. Ying Li recently led EMC China's Center of Excellence and will report to Sanjay Mirchandani. He will work within the framework of VMware Labs Asia with engineering resources to support customers and partners in close collaboration with the global office of the VMware CTO as well as VMware China's sales and R&D leadership. VMware's R&D Center in China will continue to be led by Alan Ren, managing director, China R&D, VMware.

"By developing technology solutions in close coordination with the broader ecosystem, VMware will address market-specific requirements together with partners and other communities to rapidly develop and ship new innovation for the China market and beyond," said Ying Li. "VMware Labs Asia will give VMware an advantage as we assemble and combine the expertise of multiple stakeholders to embrace the new era of technology development," Li added.

The first project initiated under VMware Labs Asia is the development of Linux virtual desktops in China and based on the latest Linux requirements set forth by the China Linux Consortium. This effort will expand the virtual desktop options available to customers as Linux desktop use has increased in China among enterprise users, thus making more secure management a top priority among IT administrators focused on corporate compliance.

The introduction of Linux VDI is a natural expansion of VMware's end user computing strategy to provide a more secure virtual workspace for more productive workers. In addition to delivering centralized management capabilities of Linux desktops, VMware's Linux VDI solution will allow users to securely access their Linux desktops from mobile devices when outside the office.

VMware Labs Asia has begun discussions with academia, developer, open technology and partner communities in China.