VMware Partner Exchange 2010 Kicks Off With Record-breaking 2,600+ Attendees, 55 Sponsors and 45 Countries Represented

Third Annual Event Grows More than 60 Percent Year over Year; VMware Continues to Invest in Solution Competencies, Partner University and Education to Help Partners Deliver Virtualization Solutions to Customers on the Journey to Cloud Computing

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Feb. 8, 2010 —VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), the global leader in virtualization solutions from the desktop through the datacenter and to the cloud, today kicked off VMware Partner Exchange 2010, the company’s third annual global partner conference. With more than 2,600 attendees from around the world – more than 60 percent growth compared to 2009 – as well as 55 sponsors including Arrow ECS, Cisco, EMC, HP, Ingram Micro, Intel, NetApp, Novell, Trend Micro and Wyse, VMware Partner Exchange 2010 broke the event’s 2009 attendance and sponsorship records.

This year’s event comes on the heels of a successful 2009, during which VMware experienced steady growth in the VMware Partner Network and continued investment in programs such as solution competencies, VMware Partner University, and certification training – helping partners deliver virtualization solutions to customers on the journey to cloud computing.

“VMware represents the next generation of IT, with our technology as the key enabler for the private cloud,” said Carl Eschenbach, executive vice president of worldwide field operations, VMware. “But our diverse partner ecosystem and its broad footprint in the marketplace are paramount to helping customers transition to the private cloud. VMware Partner Exchange helps connect the dots by bringing partners together to hear the latest on enhancements to our award-winning VMware Partner Network, get previews on VMware technology, and share ideas with their peers.”

In 2009, VMware experienced steady partner program growth:

• The VMware Partner Network grew to 25,000 partners worldwide
• As part of the VMware Partner Network, the VMware Service Provider Program (VSPP) grew to more than 1,700 service provider partners from around the world, signaling increased interest in virtualization and cloud computing from customers

VMware also experienced momentum in its solution competency program. Through VMware Partner University, VMware partners can earn solution competencies in infrastructure virtualization, business continuity and desktop virtualization to demonstrate and differentiate their expertise to customers. Since solution competencies were introduced in 2009, more than 50 percent of Premier- and Enterprise-level partners have achieved their first competency in infrastructure virtualization or are well on their way to achieving it. Moreover, the desktop virtualization solution competency has gained popularity as a strategic asset among VMware partners:

“Achieving the desktop virtualization competency shows customers that we are experts in helping them virtualize their desktop and application environments, enabling them to confidently select Data Strategy for their desktop solution needs,” said Gregg DeWitt, president of Data Strategy. “We believe the designation of this competency and VMware desktop products are key accelerators for our growth in the desktop virtualization market.”

Other certifications offered through VMware Partner University also gained momentum in 2009, further demonstrating the value of VMware training:

• Introduced in 2008, the VMware Technical Sales Professional (VTSP) certification grew 427 percent year over year, with more than 19,000 individuals earning this certification in 2009
• The popular VMware Certified Professional (VCP) certification grew 85 percent year over year, with nearly 12,000 individuals earning this certification in 2009

Eschenbach continued: “We made significant investments in 2009 that have benefitted our partners: We launched breakthrough new products such as VMware vSphere™ 4 and VMware View™ 4, we introduced the VMware Partner Network, and we upgraded our partner portal infrastructure to provide the tools and resources partners need to build successful virtualization practices. These investments were designed to simplify the way partners do business with us so they can derive more revenue from VMware solutions. We’re excited about the momentum carrying forward with our partners from 2009, and we look forward to continued success with them in 2010.”

For more information, please visit:

• VMware Partner Exchange 2010
• VMware Partner Network
• VMware Solution Competencies

About VMware Partner Exchange 2010

VMware Partner Exchange 2010 is the marquis global event for virtualization partners, offering more than 150 sessions and an extensive exhibitor pavilion to demonstrate how partners can best accelerate their virtualization businesses in 2010. Partner attendees will receive a preview into the next generation of products and programs coming from VMware and will offer partners an exclusive opportunity to hear from VMware executives including Carl Eschenbach, executive vice president of worldwide field operations and Dr. Stephen Herrod, CTO and senior vice president of R&D.

About VMware

VMware delivers solutions for business infrastructure virtualization that enable IT organizations to energize businesses of all sizes.  With the industry leading virtualization platform – VMware vSphere™ – customers rely on VMware to reduce capital and operating expenses, improve agility, ensure business continuity, strengthen security and go green. With 2009 revenues of $2.9 billion, more than 170,000 customers and 25,000 partners, VMware is the leader in virtualization which consistently ranks as a top priority among CIOs. VMware is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the world and can be found online at www.vmware.com.

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VMware, VMware View and VMware vSphere are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. The use of the word “partner” or “partnership” does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company.

Forward –Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release which are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relate, but are not limited, to, momentum in our partner programs and in customer demand for our products, the role of our products in the future development of information technology and expectations for 2010. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) changes in macroeconomic conditions; (ii) delays or reductions in consumer or information technology spending; (iii) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures, industry consolidation, entry of new competitors into the virtualization market, and new product and marketing initiatives by our competitors; (iv) our customers’ ability to develop, and to transition to, new products, (v) the uncertainty of customer acceptance of emerging technology initiatives; (vi) rapid technological and market changes in virtualization software; (vii) changes to product development timelines; (viii) our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; and (ix) our ability  to attract and retain highly qualified employees.  These forward looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in condition, significance, value and effect as well as other risks detailed in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K and current reports on Form 8-K, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. VMware disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.