Virtualisation behemoth VMware claims to have enticed 700 partners to its VMware Service Provider Programme (VSPP) since its launch in 2008.

Spanning 32 countries the VSPP is designed to allow service providers, offering cloud-based IT to customers outside of their traditional datacentres, to offer external IT infrastructures for increasing or reducing compute capacity.

Scott Aronson, vice president, global accounts and VMware vCloud market development at VMware, said: “We are excited about the traction the VSPP has gained in such a short time, as it further validates the value proposition for customers to use cloud computing services based on the VMware platform.

“The VSPP also offers service provider partners an easy onramp to participate in the VMware vCloud initiative, which helps partners leverage our industry-leading virtualisation platform to enable secure, robust and highly reliable internal and external clouds.”

VSPP members have access to VMware’s licensing model that allows them to pay for the license they require, to provide customised services. Services providers pay for monthly access to the vendor’s platform on a per-virtual machine basis, which the service provider can offer to customers on this model.

Simon Hansford, vice president for service strategy at VMware partner Attenda, said: “The VSPP enables us to offer solutions that provide cost-effective, cloud-based virtualised infrastructure that meets the specific needs of clients of all sizes through a simplified, easily accessible service model.

“We get all the benefits of the VMware vSphere 4 platform, reduced capital and operating expenses, increased IT flexibility and a smaller carbon footprint, with a convenient ‘pay as you go’ model that scales easily according to customer demand.”

David A. Casillo, senior vice president for strategic partnerships and marketing at corporate reseller Insight, said: “VMware vSphere 4 is at the forefront of cloud computing, providing significant cost savings, resource efficiencies and IT flexibility, so it is no surprise that combining this platform with a world-class partner programme just for service providers would gain significant momentum.”