Since Broadcom's acquisition of VMware received formal approval in late November, there have been departures involving resignations and layoffs. Notably, former VMware president Sumit Dhawan, seen speaking at VMware Explore 2023 in Las Vegas last August, has transitioned to become the chief executive officer (CEO) of cybersecurity vendor Proofpoint. (IT World Canada)
Broadcom's recent announcement to terminate the VMware partner program has sent shockwaves through the market, leaving industry insiders and businesses, like Whipcord Edge Data Centers, reeling. John Annand from Info-Tech Research Group expressed concerns about the abrupt end of the program, emphasizing VMware's historical significance within the reseller and channel communities since its inception in 1998.
Annand highlighted the VMware Partner Program's importance, serving as a certification benchmark for many IT professionals, leading to the formation of the VMware User Group (VMUG). This independent organization aimed to facilitate connections and collaboration among VMware users globally.
Whipcord Edge Data Centers, a long-time participant in VMware's Cloud Service Provider program, received a termination notice, signaling the end of their ability to transact under VMware's Partner Connect Program, effective April 30, 2024. Dan Hamilton, COO of Whipcord Edge, expressed shock at the lack of warning and communication regarding these terminations, especially concerning the silence from their aggregator, Ingram Micro, and VMware.
Hamilton voiced concerns about the uncertainty surrounding their future involvement with Broadcom's program, fearing potential structural changes or program termination, as neither VMware nor Broadcom provided detailed information about their plans.
Annand reflected on VMware's collaborative approach with partners and its impact on enterprise solutions, noting that Broadcom's actions seemed more aligned with operational efficiency rather than technological advancement. He highlighted Broadcom's shift towards subscription-only SKUs at potentially higher price points, reducing partner options and increasing enterprise responsibility for solution design.
Despite attempts to obtain comments from VMware and Ingram Micro, there has been no official response to address the concerns raised by affected parties. Ingram Micro Canada indicated their intention to work with Whipcord Edge regarding their worries but refrained from providing any additional comments at the moment.
Broadcom's move to overhaul VMware's partner program has left many in the industry anxious about the future landscape of services, pricing models, and collaboration, raising uncertainties among businesses that have relied on VMware's ecosystem for years.
