The growing number of connected devices has given an entirely new dimension to the mobile strategy of enterprises. Any device which is plugged onto the internet becomes a mini-computer and has become the new point for end-user computing. The rapid adoption of a mobility strategy has thrown open a huge market opportunity for virtualisation software company Vmware, who enable the running of the applications and securing it on any mobile device. Sanjay Poonen, executive vice-president and general manager, end-user computing, VMware talks about mobility strategy of enterprises and how they are expanding their reach in an interview with PP Thimmaya. Excerpts:
How is VMware expanding its reach into the fast growing area of end-user computing?
VMware is the fourth largest software company and fastest growing. We have built innovative software where we have grown out of the data centre which is now heading to the cloud. The newer area of end user computing has now
become the fastest growing big business inside the company. This is being driven by the mobile workforces who are undergoing a transformation of digitisation and modernisation. The end user computing solution has moved from the traditional world where one stayed at a particular location to a mobile environment be it a laptop, tablet or anything else. This essentially led to an environment where one can use any application at anytime and anyplace. We have got the desktop and mobile portfolio and this combined is a sizeable part of VMware’s growth.
Has mobility become the de facto standard today for enterprises?
Mobility comes in two forms. Firstly it is something that is on the move where you expect applications which are not necessarily resident on the device and it is coming from the server. This is what virtualisation does to make your device thinner. The actual mobile solutions came in when we acquired AirWatch two years ago and has been doing really well for the company. We are not just data centre company but can reach tens of millions of end points. We see a big opportunity to be the de facto choice for companies that are not only accessing their applications and protecting mobile devices but also machines in the future. This is going to see exponential growth. We need to see how we can connect with these devices and to manage and protect. We need to get the applications on them and protect it. Mobility today empowers enterprises to improve productivity.
How are enterprises adopting the mobility strategy?
We ask companies on their mobile strategy and how we can help them. The information intensive industries are first ones to adopt these solutions like banking, services sector, where they have lot of people on the move. Mobile and cloud are fundamentally transforming an enterprise and we as an end-user solution provider have the opportunity to play in the centre. As the data centre becomes more cloud and the end point is mobile.
Will end-user computing go beyond conventional devices?
When you look at the future of machines these are essentially smart devices which becomes mini-computer, when it is connected. Any device where there is a wireless connection, we can deploy the application and make it secure. This becomes the new frontier and throws up new opportunity for billion of devices who are connected with applications to be running on them.
Which new sectors are adopting the mobile strategy?
We are a fairly horizontal company and really go after any place that is information intensive. The priority is either to empower the employee or protecting the workforce with security. Today, virtualisation is an absolute must for enterprises. Today we are working with various educational institutions and federal governments. We see a lot of interest in the various governments in India which are interested in mobile strategy. They are looking at modernising the data centre and the end device point.
How is the growth in India for VMware?
India is one of the highlight for us globally. Among the BRIC countries India certainly is the brightest. Inside our company’s business, end user computing is the highlight. Topics like mobile are very relevant in the economy. We are building a repertoire of customers. There are lots of success in India with telcos being one of the early adopters. Manufacturing and startups are other key areas for us. We see opportunity in any company where they empowering the employee with a mobile device that will transform their productivity.
