VMware Helps Prudential UK Deliver Enhanced Customer Service

PALO ALTO, Calif., December 15, 2003- VMware, the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems, today announced that Prudential UK has made significant cost savings by using VMware ESX Server to deliver applications to a remote customer service center. Prudential UK was able to get the remote service center fully operational within a six-month period.

In meeting the stringent six-month deadline, as well as the technology and business requirements, VMware proved critical. The site - located in Mumbai, India - can now be simply managed from the UK, and users can easily access all proprietary business critical applications and data currently available to users in the UK.

Prudential's 'Standard Desktop Operating Environment' (SDOE), which consists of a standard suite of applications for all employees, means the company is able to build control into the system and create a consistently high level of customer experience. In order for employees in Mumbai to access the SDOE, Prudential designed a system using VMware ESX Server virtualization software to allow HP servers to be split up into multiple virtual machines. Each of these virtual machines runs an instance of the Prudential SDOE to which employees in Mumbai can log on. This solution brought significant cost savings to the company because the system could be rolled out quickly, there was no need to re-write applications and all IT management can be done centrally.

The implementation of VMware ESX Server began in June this year and to date 550 staff in Mumbai have been moved to the new system. The remote operation will scale up to 850 staff by the end of 2004.

"Rapid deployment, delivering a stable environment and achieving the maximum return on our IT investment were key objectives for the project. From the outset the HP and VMware team were clear about how we would meet these targets and this has been reflected in the delivery of the project on time and within budget," said Steve Ferrari, director of operations strategy at Prudential UK. "The implementation is a fundamental shift in our IT infrastructure and supports our on-going customer services transformation program."

"Prudential has been highly innovative in its use of virtualization software to provide fast, cost-effective access to applications to its new service center in Mumbai," said Mark Stradling, vice president of EMEA at VMware. "This implementation is clear proof of the range of business benefits that can be gained using virtualization technology."

About VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. is the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems. The world's largest companies use VMware solutions to simplify their IT, fully leverage their existing computing investments and respond faster to changing business demands. VMware is based in Palo Alto, California. For more information, visit www.vmware.com or call 650-475-5000.

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